Partner Article

RMT first in region to adopt new legislation

EARLIER this year the Government introduced new legislation that gives the Information Commissioner’s Office the power to issue fines of up to £500,000 to businesses that compromise their client data.

Since April this year, companies without adequate procedures and protection have been at risk from potentially critical fines which, for many SMEs, could prove the difference between survival and collapse.

However the uptake by businesses to adopt adequate systems has been almost no existent, thus leaving many businesses running the risk of incurring hefty fines.

On the back of the new legislation – that advises the use of specialist encryption software when transferring data such as emails – Newcastle-based RMT has become one of the first firms in the region to adopt these new systems.

The company has agreed a partnership with Egress Software Technologies to use its landmark Egress Switch product to protect its fast-growing band of regional and national clients.

Unlike conventional software which protects data on a company’s network, Switch is able to prevent data loss incidents at the hands of third parties whether it is shared with customers, partners or outsourced, regardless of the format it is stored on.

RMT’s IT Partner Stephen Slater said: “We take our clients’ and our own information security very seriously. The laws are changing, the risks associated are getting larger and non compliance with the rules can lead to hefty fines.

“We feel all businesses that deal with personal and confidential client data should be using an encryption system and we hope other firms in our region will follow our lead and take the adequate steps or risk falling foul of the law.”

RMT’s investment into Egress follows a strategic partnership between the software organisation and the International Association of Accountants, Innovation and Technology Consultants (IAAITC).

According to the IAAITC, the ability to share client information securely is the one of the biggest challenges facing the professional services industry.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .