Companies must have excellent cybersecurity teams

As a leading firm of data breach specialists, we believe that the demands of the digital age necessitate excellent cybersecurity teams in all businesses. In smaller companies, this may just mean one or two people dedicated to ensuring the systems are protected, but bigger companies with significant data handling responsibilities will often need an expert team to carefully consider their data protection strategies.

Unfortunately, many companies have yet to approach data protection with the careful consideration that it deserves. This can arise from using outdated methods, or hiring employees without the necessary expertise or diligence. The overall carelessness at some companies can often result in a data breach, with customers frequently bearing the brunt of the information exposure.

We believe that the neglect of data protection duties brought about the Virgin Media data breach, and we are determined to achieve justice for all the affected victims. If you suffered as a result of the breach, you may be able to join our group action and claim thousands of pounds in compensation.

Cybersecurity teams and data breaches

When successful, cybersecurity teams should be able to ensure data protection law is adhered to with the implementation of strong system defences. In accordance with the GDPR, companies are not only required to process and store data for valid, explicit purposes, they also need to make sure that the technology and software that they have in place can keep this data secure.

If not, they could be found to be in breach of the GDPR.

In the Virgin Media data breach case, a marketing database was left insecure for ten months, causing the exposure of information belonging to hundreds of thousands of people, mainly customers. It was reported that the database had been incorrectly configured by an employee, which is an example of a situation that should never have occurred in the first place. The fact that the mistake went unnoticed for ten months is even more damning and suggests that Virgin Media is not engaged in regular reviews of their security systems.

Holding Virgin Media accountable

Data protection is not a one-off project for a business. It must always be seen as an ongoing responsibility, which is exactly what it is. If cybersecurity teams fail to maintain good data security, the company they work for may be held liable for a breach of the GDPR.

In accordance with the GDPR, Virgin Media could be required to pay compensation to victims for the distress that they have suffered as a result of the breach, as well as for any financial losses or expenses, if applicable. However unintentional the error may have been, there is no excuse for it also remaining unidentified for such a long period of time.

Join our group action today

We believe that the Virgin Media data breach demonstrates the vital requirement for excellent cybersecurity teams to prevent data breaches from happening. Everything must run like clockwork, as there is no room for error when personal information is at stake.

We are Your Lawyers – a leading consumer action law firm with extensive experience in data breach cases and group actions. We have a seat on the Steering Committee for the first GDPR Group Litigation Order in England and Wales, a role that demonstrates our reputation in this developing area of law.

To join our Virgin Media group action, you only need to have been notified of your involvement in the breach. You can then start your claim straight away using our easy online sign-up form here.

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