Equifax launches data breach resources website for Canadian businesses

TORONTO--Equifax Canada launched a new Data Breach resources website at www.equifaxprotect.com in response to a recent rash of data breaches and pending legislative changes aimed at protecting organizations that collect and maintain personal data.

“Data breaches seem to be making headlines daily, with data loss volumes increasing exponentially,” said John Russo, Vice-President, Legal Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer of Equifax Canada. “To avoid being the next headline, businesses that collect and store data about their customers or employees must be pro-active in their efforts, and be better equipped and prepared to deal with such incidents, as inevitably they impact all organizations, big and small.”

With Data Breaches on the rise (Equifax 2013 annual statistics reveal an increase of over 250% from 2012 in the reported data breach occurrences), all organizations who maintain data are at risk of experiencing a breach, the risk is exacerbated with the trend towards cloud computing, and the use of third-party application services.

The Equifax Data Breach resources site brings Canadian businesses current incidence response checklists, online data governance assessment tools, news and privacy reform information enabling them to be better prepared and equipped in the face of a defending against a data breach.

“With federal privacy law changes likely on the horizon, companies should be pro-actively implementing internal policies and controls to prepare for, and mitigate the legal and financial ramifications of a data breach,” advised Russo. “Corporate accountability is crucial. Having an incidence response plan in place will help to minimize any future liability, negative public perception, and serve as a good defence against the inevitable class action lawsuits that typically stem from a data compromise; maintaining consumer trust is critical to success in these difficult situations.”