New legislation introduced on 6th April 2010 gave the Information Commissioner’s Office the power to issue fines of up to £500,000 for breaching the Data Protection Act. This dramatic change to UK Statute placed organisations that process client information in grave danger as guidelines stipulate the use of encryption when transferring personally identifiable information electronically.
Morris Owen has provided financial services throughout the South West since the early 1930s and frequently exchange confidential information with their clients. Offering an extensive range of general and specialist accountancy services including payroll bureau, corporate finance, and audit, Morris Owen became increasingly concerned with the risks associated with sharing sensitive data. Acting in the interests of their clients, a firm wide review was carried out to ensure that appropriate measures were in place to safeguard the security of information sent by email, CD/DVD, or uploaded to Cloud Servers.
“We have always taken data security very seriously at Morris Owen, however this new legislation represents a substantial risk to our clients,” said Partner Ian Sumbler. “Using Egress Protect, we can fulfil our commitment to providing leading financial services and now offer secure collaboration services completely free of charge when communicating with Morris Owen.”
Ian Sumbler, Partner, Morris Owen
Delivered as a hosted service to guarantee rapid deployment and low cost of ownership, Egress Protect enables users to encrypt information in a single click, protecting data wherever it resides. Sumbler continues, “Since the firm has implemented Egress Protect we are confident that information we distribute externally meets UK legal requirements and mitigates the risk of data loss. Egress Protect integrates seamlessly with our daily workflow, making it easy to use, while offering the level of assurance we need when processing client data. Best of all, our clients now benefit in return, enabling them to protect and audit confidential information, as its all part of the service.”