Accordingly to an article in Computer Weekly cyber criminals compromised more than a billion data records in 2014 by means of more than 1,500 breaches, which represents an increase of 49% in data breaches and 78% increase in data records lost or stolen in 2013. That works out at 32 records lost or stolen every second! Most of the data breaches were in North America (76%), followed by Europe (12%), where the UK had the highest number (117 breaches). The UK is a target seemingly because of the large number of financial institutions based in London. Over half the breaches were made by malicious outsiders, with accidental loss amounting to a quarter, malicious insiders 15%, state-sponsored attackers 4% and ‘hacktivists’ just 1%. Wherever the threat originates, it’s clear that breaches are increasing in size and frequency, meaning that all holders of data must be constantly vigilant and ensure that information governance policies and procedures around access, authentification, encryption and storage are adhered to, so a handy plug for the Archive & Records Association’s ‘Don’t Risk It’ campaign.

Attended the launch of the Archives & Records Association’s “Don’t Risk It!  Know Your Records” campaign yesterday at London Metropolitan Archives.   It’s ARA’s first advocacy campaign for records management and has been developed by the Section for Records Management & Information Governance.  The campaign aims to increase understanding of the importance of good records management and raise awareness of the risks of not managing records properly.  It’s also intended to provide practical help and advice to anyone with records management responsibility by means of a toolkit, which is available on the ARA website – www.archives.org.uk/campaigns/knowyourrecords.html .   Look out too for other activities taking place this autumn, including a “Bring the Boss” event in November. 

In the meantime, check out the website and start promoting those core messages  –

·         There are significant benefits and economies for organisations which get records management right

·         The legal and reputational dangers of getting recordkeeping wrong can be profound

·         More organisations need to employ and empower recordkeeping professionals and use his or her skills wisely