Protecting customers' personal information is not an option, but an obligation
CT BBB has rolled-out a new Web site with tools for businesses to protect their and customers' personal information, including credit card numbers.

WALLINGFORD, CT, February 25, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Connecticut Better Business Bureau offers free, comprehensive data security tools for businesses

Connecticut BBB announces the roll-out of a new Web site with tools for medium and growing businesses to protect internal company data and customers' personal information, including credit card numbers. The new program is called Data Security - Made Simpler.

This free BBB download is a Web-based package available to all visitors at bbb.org through a program logo hyperlink in the lower right corner of our home page. The program is part of BBB's ongoing commitment to data security to help protect consumers and businesses.

Connecticut Better Business Bureau President, Paulette Scarpetti, says Data Security - Made Simpler equips company owners with a variety of tools to assess and tighten internal security.

"Technology helps buyers and sellers on a number of levels, however technology is a double-edged sword. It also helps hackers, thieves and vandals who are constantly looking for security holes to steal company and customer information."

Securing customers' sensitive data is a crucial element of the business-customer trust relationship. Unfortunately, many data breaches begin with lax company security policies.

According to a study of employees conducted by the privacy and data security consultants at the Ponemon Institute, "... of those surveyed, 58% said their employer failed to provide adequate data security awareness and training, and 57% said their employer's data protection policies were ineffective. According to 43%, there was poor communication and enforcement of data security policies."

Ponemon studies also reveal that it often takes a data breach before an organization will take data security seriously. The strength of private data protection is constantly being tested, and in some cases compromised as data thieves have begun targeting growing businesses.

The encouraging news is that patching data vulnerability does not require hiring an Information Technology (IT) consultant or making a large capital investment to lock down sensitive information.

New BBB Security Tool
Data Security - Made Simpler is the result of a BBB partnership with data security experts at Symantec Corporation, Visa Inc., Kroll's Fraud Solutions and NACHA - The Electronic Payments Association.

BBB's Data Security - Made Simpler offers free, comprehensive and easy-to-understand security guidelines, checklists and Web links to resources that are relevant to businesses of all sizes.

The site covers all aspects of the handling of personal information in the office and online, and gives businesses the information they need to assess and put into effect powerful data handling practices to protect against a security breach.

Resource topics on the site include:
· Securing Sensitive Data
· Monitoring & Transmitting Financial Data
· Becoming 'PCI Compliant'
· Disposing of Data
· Data Security and Your Customers
· Spotting Identity Theft
· What to Do If Consumer Data Is Stolen
· Global Enterprises Data Security Issues
· Responding to Third Party Data Requests
· Common Technical and Legal Terms
· About Our Topic Experts

A print version of the security program can be downloaded by clicking on "Intro to Small Businesses" in the upper right corner of the Data Security - Made Simpler page at bbb.org.

Press Release Contact Information:

Howard Schwartz
Better Business Bureau CT
Communications Coordinator
94 South Turnpike Rod
Wallingford, Connecticut
USA 06492
Voice: 206-269-2700 ext 103
Website: Visit Our Website