BlockMaster launches USB Evolution to protect organisations against the threat of data breaches

1st April 2010 – London, UK – BlockMaster (www.blockmastersecurity.com) a leading provider of secure removable data devices, today announces a USBevolution to educate organisations on security best practice as new laws come into effect that enable the Information Commissoner (ICO) to fine organisations up to £500,000 for a breach of the Data Protection Act.

On April 6th BlockMaster’s USB Alert Team will descend on Canary Wharf to raise awareness of the ICO fines as they come into force and to understand employee attitudes to data security. The event will launch in conjunction with USBevolution.com that will include top tips and guidelines to help organisations protect information and avoid financial penalties or brand damage resulting from a data breach.

Anders Pettersson, CSO, BlockMaster Security, says: “It is shocking to see organisations continue to lose their data when there have been so many breaches causing public humiliation. The ICO is rightly cracking down on organisations that fail to protect information, but it is critical that we also educate businesses on how to protect information and importantly that this message filters down to the employees who actually carry the data around.

“We are launching a USBevolution to provide organisations with the tools they need to protect against these evolving security threats and believe that if devices are made with the user in mind, adoption will increase and breaches will decrease. Human error will always be a problem, so it is critical that we remove the security responsibility from the user and empower central administrators to take control of devices carrying important company information.”

The #USBevolution will take place on April 6th in Canary Wharf, just outside Canary Wharf Tube Station (next to Jubilee Park), where the USB Alert team will distribute 100 SafeSticks to workers whilst gauging their views about information security and who’s responsibility it really is. Come and join us between 8am and 4pm to be part of this evolution!

Mike Bienvenu, Technical Director, Softek comments: “More industry wide collaboration and education is needed to solve the USB problem, which is a very serious issue with thousands of unsecure USB drives lost each year. As the workforce becomes more mobile, the proliferation of these devices carrying sensitive information will also increase, so it is critical that organisations get involved with the USBevolution before it is too late.”