A notifiable data breach occurs when personal information is exposed through unauthorised access, accidental disclosure, or loss of data, such as when a device, a phone, or a physical document is lost or stolen. If a data breach occurs within your business or your business becomes affected by one, it’s important to react quickly.
Under Australia’s Privacy Act 1988 and the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme, organisations must notify affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) when such breaches occur.
Sometimes, a data breach is only discovered after a customer reports unusual account activity or an internal review shows that the wrong person accessed sensitive information.
When a notifiable data breach has occurred, the information relates to the affected individuals’ identity, putting them at risk of identity theft, fraudulent activity, and financial loss.
Having professional data breach notification services helps ensure that your business can respond quickly, meet legal obligations, and reduce long-term risk. Failing to comply with the NDB scheme under Australian privacy law can lead to:
Prompt breach responses mean that your customers can protect their accounts immediately, be aware of any suspicious activity, and take the recommended steps individuals need to secure their identity.
Data breaches for small businesses often result from everyday operational issues instead of advanced attacks. Some common causes are:
When an organisation suspects that a data breach has occurred, it needs to act immediately. If a breach is likely to cause serious harm:
You don’t have to deal with a notifiable cyber breach on your own! Our skilled team works with businesses across many different industries to reduce risk, strengthen security controls, and make sure that your business is prepared to protect customer data.
Contact Qbit IT Services today for expert guidance to help your business manage and prevent data breaches, respond quickly to security incidents, and protect personal information.
Data from the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) found that the average resolution cost per data breach or cybercrime was $49,600 for small businesses, $62,800 for medium businesses, and $63,600 for larger businesses in 2023 to 2024. That’s why we recommend investing in adequate managed cyber security services to ensure business is always prepared.
A notifiable data breach happens when personal information is lost, accessed, or disclosed without authorisation, and if the breach can cause serious harm like identity theft, fraud, or financial loss. For example, an employee accidentally emails a spreadsheet containing customers’ bank details to the wrong person, which could lead to financial loss or fraud.
Failing to comply with the Privacy Act 1988 and the NDB Scheme can result in significant penalties enforced by the OAIC, with the maximum penalty for a serious breach being A$50 million.
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