Organisations Still Not Taking the Security of Data Seriously Despite Tailored Solutions Such as CitySprint's SecureData Courier Service Being Available

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Shutting the door after the horse has bolted is one thing. Allowing it to stay open is quite another. Since the highly publicised child benefit issue when 25 million records, including names addresses and bank account details, went missing when a disk was lost in the post, there have, according to the ICO, been another 711 reported security breaches.

A recent report from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has warned that the number of incidents of loss or theft of personal data has risen to an ‘unacceptable’ level in the past year. NHS Hospitals holding private medical records were amongst the worst offenders.

However, new proposals could see such offenders risk fines of up to half a million pounds from 2010. Perhaps the motivation they need to take data security more seriously?

In Q2 2008, CitySprint launched its SecureData Courier service designed specifically for sensitive deliveries. The service provides a reliable and secure solution to those wishing to send valuable and sensitive data within the UK.

In the past security of data and information transport has been compromised due to the absence of a truly tailored solution. Without a tailored solution organisations have often sent highly personal and valuable data by overnight carriers or by less secure means. However, following the launch of SecureData Courier there was no excuse. Yet, despite the high profile nature of many of the losses many public and private sector organisations alike have still to cotton on to the added-value such services provide and continue to choose less-secure and ‘cheaper’ options.

It is understandable that organisations are looking to manage their costs effectively. However, the reality of this budget conscious, or naive, purchasing is that 434 organisations reported data security breaches during the past 12 months, an increase of 277 from the year before.

The CitySprint SecureData Courier service is a premium SameDay Courier service which has a number of unique and additional security features including the use of a single, dedicated courier assigned to each delivery and a specialist support team to assist with bookings and ensure the delivery is achieved exactly to the customer’s requirements. The package is delivered to the addressee only, as opposed to the offices or reception of the recipient, ensuring a seamless and secure hand-over. In addition the entire delivery can be tracked OnLine and on a live, real-time basis, providing customers with reassurance as they can view the exact location of the package from collection to delivery. Within minutes of delivery customers will receive a time-stamped PDF detailing the entire journey and a copy of the recipient’s signature.

Customers are allocated a priority booking number and provided with the details of the courier, the vehicle registration as well as a unique tracking number prior to collection.

Darren Taylor, General Manager, Regional ServiceCentres said: “In 2008 we were approached and given the challenge of developing a courier service which offers a safe and secure alternative to organisations wishing to transport confidential data within the UK. The resulting service was SecureData Courier. We are confident that this provides organisations with a tailored solution enabling them to transport such data with confidence.

“However, whilst many organisations have welcomed the introduction of this service we are still witnessing resistance from some organisations that aren’t willing to pay the premium or simply don’t view the additional security elements as vital. SecureData represents a cost-effective solution, particularly when you consider the alternatives, but many organisations still only see the ‘cost-per-mile’. We have worked hard to ensure this service is competitively priced but is inevitably going to carry a premium due to the ‘premium’ nature of the service.”

Crispin Blunt MP, Conservative Shadow Minister for Security and Counter-Terrorism, said: “To hear that the NHS is amongst the worst offenders of personal data loss is quite concerning. The taxpayer puts their trust in the NHS and to be let down in this way is simply unacceptable; particularly when it is avoidable. There are services available which have been designed specifically for data transit; why aren’t we using them? How anyone can deem it sensible to pop such information in the post is beyond me? Why don’t the people responsible for sourcing courier suppliers to transport such data understand the enormity of this situation and why doesn’t the management understand the implications of this penny pinching? Something has to change; we can’t continue to be so careless which such valuable and sensitive information.”