| Spurred on by recent UK data losses at public | | | | customers and legal representatives to help |
| sector agencies, bodies representing UK and | | | | them anticipate and address the data security |
| Indian software and services companies are | | | | and data protection issues that may affect |
| calling for outsourcing providers to improve | | | | the success of their outsourcing project. |
| their security measures. | | | | There are many different technologies that |
| | | | will protect the data but the people and |
| UK IT trade association Intellect and the | | | | processes must also be in place to ensure the |
| Indian National Association of Software and | | | | security." |
| Services (Nasscom) have both recently taken | | | | |
| steps to facilitate debate around the issue | | | | Nasscom also held an event in London this |
| of data protection and outsourcing, with the | | | | month to discuss data management challenges |
| intention of establishing best practice | | | | and solutions with key members in the |
| guidance. | | | | outsourcing community. |
| | | | |
| "The data that has been lost and the way it | | | | Ameet Nivsarkar, Nasscom vice president, |
| has been lost has seriously damaged the | | | | argued that the people element of the |
| industry," said Guy Hains, chief executive of | | | | outsourcing security chain was the most |
| Computer Sciences Cooperation European Group. | | | | pressing area to be addressed. "It is |
| | | | critical to encourage organisations to |
| Speaking at an Intellect board meeting | | | | educate employees," he said. |
| earlier this month, Hains advised | | | | |
| organisations to adopt a strong human | | | | Nivsarkar also made the distinction between |
| resources vetting policy and carry out | | | | security and privacy. He expla ined that the |
| regular checks on the rights given to | | | | loss of the HMRC discs has underlined the |
| administrative database experts. | | | | need for organisations to ensure data can |
| | | | only be accessed by the minimum number of |
| The board meeting was held in advance of a | | | | people. |
| new white paper to be released by Intellect | | | | |
| in March that will give more advice to | | | | Nivsarkar advised organisations to stop |
| companies on data security when outsourcing. | | | | employees carrying phones or flash drives |
| | | | containing customer data, and to isolate |
| Carrie Hartnell, Intellect programme manager, | | | | customer networks. |
| said, "We are working with suppliers, | | | | |