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