IT training in public sector necessary to prevent data security breaches

18:50 19th November 2008

IT departments within the public sector should be trained in data handling issues, according to the Society of IT Management (Socitm) and the Local Government Association (LGA).

Socitm has joined forces with LGA to put together a publication containing action points and showcasing case studies of best practice when handling sensitive data.

The initiative has the full support of The Information Commissioner's Office which advocated the careful management of IT systems when managing personal data.

Richard Steel, president of Socitm and chief information officer at Newham, commented: "It's a long time since data security could be considered as something for just the IT department to worry about. It's a concern that should run through the entire organisation."

He added that the public sector must implement appropriate procedures as part of an IT training strategy to safeguard data from security breaches and loss in order to win public confidence in the face of recent compromises in data security.

Socitm was set up in 1986 to regulate best practice among IT workers within the public sector.

The organisation has 1,900 members drawn from 98 per cent of local authorities within the UK.