Creative Breakthroughs, Inc. Warns of Insider Data Theft
Detroit Auto Scene
DETROIT, MI, Jul 23, 2007
Businesses are traditionally on the alert for hackers trying to break into a firm's network system from the outside.
However, a local company warns of a growing trend of proprietary data and private customer information being comprised for the inside. The latest string of security breaches involving stolen personal data, which exposed 2.3 million consumers to bank and credit card theft, was done with insider involvement, according to representatives from Creative Breakthroughs, Inc., a business technology service provider in Troy.
"Unfortunately, businesses need to realize that the biggest threat to their network security comes from within the organization," Steve Barone, president and CEO of Creative Breakthroughs, Inc., stated in a company news release. "While traditional thinking on network security focuses on outside threats, controls that provide checks and balances need to be in place as well, even for senior-level management and those authorized to access sensitive material."
The most recent example links a database administrator with Certegy Check Services, part of Fidelity National Information Services, Inc., to the theft of the company's customer data that included 2.3 million customer bank and credit card records, according to a statement released by Fidelity National.
The former employee involved used a portable data storage device to physically carry the consumer information off the premises, according to the release. Barone warns that any company which permits unfettered access to their network through the use of portable devices is taking a risk with the data's confidentiality.
"We provide products that can be configured to report all device access to network data, or that only allow approved devices that are password protected and encrypted to access network resources," he said.
Val Washington, marketing director for Creative Breakthroughs, Inc., which recently became a member of Automation Alley, said insider data theft is a big problem because it's so easy today for people to plug devices into their computer.
"No matter what kind of business you have, even if you're dealing with credit card information, even if you're not keeping people's private information covered by HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), you still want to be concerned about how your data can leak out of your office," she said.
Washington explained that one of the key ways Creative Breakthroughs, Inc. helps businesses secure their data is by doing a "vulnerability assessment," where they take a look at a company's network and the computer infrastructure, and help them figure out along the way where their data could leak, and then suggest ways where they could plug potential leaks.
The process could take anywhere form a few days to a few weeks, depending on the size of the business and the size of their computer infrastructure. Cost is also dependent on size, Washington noted, but the investment could pay for itself many times over.
"The liability for leaking data is huge," she cautions, referring to what happened when T. J. Maxx retail stores suffered large-scale breach of customer credit card data perpetrated by outsides.
"They've actually had to pay for credit card monitoring for all the customers whether their credit card number has been used fraudulently or not, not to mention they're dealing with lawsuits, so these kinds of issues can turn into million- and multi-million-dollar issues for a company if they have a data leak," Washington said. "It's actually put some companies out of business."
Information about Creative Breakthroughs, Inc., is available by visiting www.creativebreakthroughs.com or calling (800) 747-8585.
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