Identity Theft

According to the U.S. Dept. of Justice Statistics, identity theft is passing drug trafficking as the number one crime in the nation. The majority of ID theft criminals are repeat offenders. While there is a lot of variation in the cost of identity theft, one survey estimated that ID in 2005 cost business and consumers $56.6 billion. You may be able to avoid the costs of identity theft by following some of the best practices in this week’s articles.

Financial scams and incidents of medical identity theft are on the rise - and they're among the main threats to business and consumers in 2010. (Item #1) With ID theft on the rise, the onus is on those organizations and departments housing sensitive employee information to improve their data protection. (Item #2) The increase in identity theft has given rise to identity-theft insurance, but is such protection necessary? (Item #3)

How can companies ensure the integrity and security of sensitive customer and employee data? (Item #4) If it is designed and built correctly, your software could end up being one of your most effective countermeasures against most of the common attacks employed by hackers today. (Item #5) Safe information handling practices are critical to keep identifying information out of the hands of thieves. (Item #6)

The full issue is available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs

Standards for Business Continuity Planning

The development of standards/regulation/regulatory guidance for business continuity management is a relatively new concept. Below we present information on some emerging and existing standards that may help you in the formulation of your business continuity plan.

ASIS Online has begun work to produce a Business Continuity Management (BCM) standard, for approval by ANSI. (Item #1) This case study focusing on BS 25999 shows how standards can help your business. (Item #2) BC program to meet the requirements of either the BS 25999 or the NFPA 1600 standards is an effective way to ensure that your program will have world class potential. (Item #3)

How long the U.S. and other countries with non-mandatory business continuity management standards will be able to voluntarily comply is up to market forces. (Item #4) Not exactly a standard, OSHA says, but guidance on planning for a pandemic. (Item #5) GLBA applies specifically to financial institutions, but its provisions already have been adopted by many types of companies in the private sector. (Item #6)


Read the entire issue at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs