In late March 2016, it was reported that hackers had accessed a database of Verizon Enterprise Services and acquired information affecting 1.5 million of its customers. Although breaches are reported daily, this one is notable because it drives home the adage that the question isn’t “Will a breach will occur?”, but rather “When will a breach occur?”. Also, it highlights that devoting significant resources to security cannot create impenetrable protections. It is impossible to imagine that Verizon’s cybersecurity systems are anything other than extensive and robust. Verizon is a major player providing cybersecurity solutions to business and government customers, data breach response assistance, and publishes extensively on cybersecurity issues. This hack provides one more reminder that even the most secure technical systems can only do so much. Importantly, as we noted in a recent Privacy Perils posting, vigilant, diligent individuals are crucial to a strong cyber defense.
Check out our series, Privacy Perils, to learn what steps you can take to guard your personal and company data. For more information about this topic and other cyber security concerns, please contact a member of our Privacy & Data Security team.