US data breach notification laws 'have become stricter'

2009-07-09

Data breach notification laws in the US have become stricter and more varied in recent years, it has been suggested.

States including California, Massachusetts and Nevada have all created stringent new legislation, according to PeakData Services.

"Proposed national legislation such as the Data Accountability and Trust Act that is working its way through congress could simplify things for organizations that deal with sensitive customer information," commented Glenn Jacobsen, vice-president and general manager of PeakData Services.

He asserted that legislation in broad terms is placing a more severe focus on the protection of data privacy.

PeakData cited IDC, which claimed that there is increasing demand for mandatory data breach notification regulations similar to those found in the US.

Mr Jacobsen added that forward-thinking companies are bringing in best practices when it comes to protecting information from a breach such as an IT intrusion.

A recent survey from the Ponemon Institute, commissioned by PGP Corporation, showed that 70 per cent of UK organisations have been hit by one or more data breach incidents in the last year.

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