People are the 'key to infosecurity'

17:35 25th February 2010

People are the key to the success of an information security programme, according to the HMRC.

After a data breach in 2007 when the organisation lost the personal details of 25 million people, getting the basics right must involve every one of the HMRC's 85,000 employees.

Important changes involve encouraging senior management to champion security and also appointing "data guardians" in all of the HMRC's business units, according to a news report.

"We are making progress, with 97 per cent of staff saying they are aware of security policy, more than 29,000 staff using the intranet and 35 per cent saying they refer to the rulebooks regularly,["] Jeff Brooker, head of security and business continuity at HMRC told a publication.

In other news, both European and US authorities have approved Microsoft's plans to acquire Yahoo's internet search and search advertising businesses.

According to the European Commission, the deal "would not significantly impede effective competition," since both groups currently control less than ten per cent of the market in Europe, with Google controlling 90 per cent, the BBC has reported.

Posted by Derek Oldman

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