Member Article

BA and Marriott fines demonstrate the risks of being caught out in GDPR non-compliance

In light of the fines handed out to the Marriott hotel chain and British Airways, Engage Technology Partners, a technology platform that manages the recruitment supply chain, has urged recruiters and end hirers to ensure their suppliers provide comprehensive security information when considering personal data outsourcing.

With the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) announcing this week that the two high profile businesses will be handed fines totalling nearly £300 million for failing to protect consumer data, Engage has highlighted that the risks for businesses will only increase. While there is no question that these organisations will have had a full understanding of the GDPR, the ICO maintains that they had insufficient security practices which consequently led to a major data breach.

Alex Fraser, Director of Engage commented:

“While this is the first major fine of 2019, the sheer scale of it should certainly serve as a warning to business owners. If two firms with a raft of tech support behind them have been caught out, there can be no doubt that smaller businesses are also exposed to potential risks.”

“Engage has put in place the extensive security procedures necessary to meet the requirements of some of the high streets biggest employers and we can offer peace of mind to our clients of all sizes. We encourage clients to ask suppliers about security considerations in coding standards, proactive monitoring and as part of staff training. There are a number of tools now available to audit and report on security standards that help identify potential weaknesses and verify that standards are being met.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Engage .