Another year, another IT scandal.
This time screw up, relating to the loss of a memory stick containing passwords to a government site via which people can pay parking fines and fill in tax returns, has been blamed on a private contractor (Atos Origin).
All very well, but it is the government that vets, approves and hires these firms.
Anyhoo, the extra icing on the cake is that Gordon "Smiler" Brown has admitted that the government cannot promise the safety of personal data entrusted by the public.
This coming from a government that wants to issue compulsory id cards, build a DNA database, place our medical records online and force us all to submit tax returns online.
Hardly reassuring is it?
There is some good news, the memory stick has been found...outside of the Orbital Pub in Cannock.
Tax does have to be taxing.
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"All very well, but it is the government that vets, approves and hires these firms."
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I have to side with the government on this one.
Security guidelines are drawn up in these sort of contracts, and the companies hired are expected to follow them.
If some idiot decides to take a shortcut and fails to secure data, how is that the fault of the government exactly?
Personally, I'd like to see much harsher action taken against these slapdash individuals including disciplinary action resulting in sacking, large fines and maybe even a jail sentence. Perhaps then they'll start taking their responsibilities a little more seriously.
You can compile and publicise all the security guidance you want, but the weakest link in any security system is the people who choose to ignore it.
Make an example of a few of them and perhaps the rest will fall in line.
The Daily Mash is brill on this one
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/data-stick-makes-it-as-far-as-the-pub-200811031369/