Outsourcing industry addresses data loss issues
Coming soon after a number of high-profile data loss cases involving several government departments were reported, representatives of the world's outsourcing community have met to discuss the issue of data security.
Recent research by the IT consultancy ComRes found that, while 61 per cent of the IT executives polled felt that India represents a secure destination for outsourcing IT operations, only 20 per cent had the same confidence in Eastern Europe.
According to the India-based National Association of Software and Services (Nasscom), the potential problem of data loss and leakage needs to be addressed alongside firms which outsource their work, with all parties, including regulators, suppliers and employees, coming together to introduce best practice guidelines.
In addition, Guy Hains, chief executive of Computer Sciences Cooperation European Group, said: "The data that has been lost and the way that it has been lost have done the industry a lot of damage. Organisations need best practices and these have to be made explicit."
However, Ameet Nivsarkar, vice president of Nasscom, also suggested that the problem could be largely addressed by better educating the employees working for firms working with outsourced IT operations, with simple measures such as prohibiting the removal of computer discs from company property likely to yield significant results.
"The weakest link is the individual and the critical aspect is to encourage organisations to educate employees," he concluded.
About Us