High Profile Cases | NETconsent in the News | Press Releases |
In this news summary we highlight the latest three issues for each section. You can read more by clicking on the heading links.
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Read the latest stories to hit the headlines that increase the need for clearly written and well communicated policies. (all news stories)
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Professor warned for revealing student's details
DWP staff ignoring new data protection rules
Data protection was breached at local school
192 HMRC staff disciplined
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Inadequate policy management has led to some high profile cases which have resulted in catastrophic consequences.
Transportation - British Airways - "in breach of company policy"
Banking - Nationwide - "lack of internal controls"
Accountancy - Dixon Wilson - Lack of clear policies
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Read what the press has to say about the issue of policy management and NETconsent policy management automation. (Further news stories)
MFID and Electronic Signatures
Acceptable Usage Policy
Devon Councils automate their policy management compliance
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Information issued by NETconsent. (Earlier press releases)
"The Facebook Challenge"
IT security cannot remain in blissful ignorance
Plymouth City Council signs up to NETconsent compliance
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The Guardian 15/05/2008
A senior academic at Lancaster University has received a written warning for making "illicit disclosures" after he responded to a mother's complaint about her son's tuition. Read Fully Story
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Heise Online 12/05/2008
Despite beefed up security policies at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), staff have continued to transmit password-protected data together with passwords, according to what appears to be an internal email leaked to a web site last week. Read the full story
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Oldham Advertiser 07/05/2008
RED-FACED council bosses have been forced to apologise to parents after a security breach allowed web access to data concerning their children. Read the full story
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House of Commons 30/04/2008
MP Jane Kennedy (Secretary to the Treasury) said “During the year ended 31 December 2007, 192 HMRC staff - from a headcount of just over 90,000 - were disciplined or dismissed for inappropriate access to personal or sensitive data” Read Full Text
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BBC News reported last year that British Airways admitted that "contact took place with a competitor in respect of long-haul passenger fuel surcharges, in breach of the company's compliance policy". With its reputation in tatters, this month BA received financial penalties of £121.5m fine from the Office of Fair Trading and £150m fine from the US Department of Justice.
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The Financial Services Authority (FSA) fined Nationwide £980,000 in February 2007 for failing to manage its information security risks after a laptop containing customer details was stolen. The fine was imposed because of the lack of internal controls rather than the breach itself according to Computing.
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In April 2007, Personnel Today reported an employee at accountancy firm Dixon Wilson, was dismissed after her employer objected to her blog. The tribunal later awarded £30,000 for unfair dismissal, citing no ‘real and serious causes’. Law firm Latimer Hinks, has urged employers to review their policies to cover internet blogging.
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07/08/2007 Finextra (Elton Cane)
I participated in a roundtable recently held by compliance vendor NetConsent. It was a fairly broad-ranging discussion about how digital certificate and e-signature solutions have evolved and been adopted (or not, as the case may be) by businesses and governments over the past 10 years. Read more
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August 2007 Information Professional Magazine (The EIT)
An Acceptable Usage Policy is essential to ensure that staff do not use Internet and email access irresponsibly. Keri Allan finds that quite what such policies should cover and who should hold responsibility for owning and enforcing them is less clear. (by Keri Allan) Read more
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31/07/2007 publictechnology.net
South Hams District Council and West Devon Borough Council are implementing NETconsent V4 as their policy management system. Read more
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03/09/2007
NETconsent Offers Free Policy Management Software To Tackle Inappropriate Corporate Web Usage
Following the TUC’s assertion that UK companies should exercise common sense when issuing guidance on the personal use of corporate Internet access for social networking sites, such as Facebook, it is evident that employers face the near impossible task of updating and distributing new policies manually.
Press Release (html)
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25/07/2007
New research by NETconsent and The Federation Against Software Theft shows that professionals are risking their reputations by accepting Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policies without understanding the documents they are agreeing to.
Press Release (pdf) | Press Release (html)
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05/11/2007
Devon Information Security Group confirms another contract for NETconsent. Plymouth City Council is the fourth member of the Devon Information Security Group (DISG) to sign up to NETconsent following a recent software evaluation project.
Press Release (pdf) | Press Release (html)
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To find out how to ensure you have effective and risk free policy management or for an opportunity to see an on-line demonstration please:
Telephone: +44 (0)870 013 1600
Email: info@netconsent.com