Well, my lovelies, would you ever believe? Back in October 2023, a particular company by the name of Blackbaud found themselves in a bit of a pickle. If you’re not totally clued up, let me paint the picture. This is a cybersecurity story with a twist and something to discuss over a cuppa.
Here is the scene: 49 state attorneys general and the District of Columbia held Blackbaud responsible for a rather nasty data breach that took place in 2020. It was enough to make your knees knock, I tell you. Now I won’t bore you with jargon, but if you’ve ever misplaced an important paper or shared a secret that ended up in the wrong ears, then you have an iota of understanding about how this feels.
But back to the tale; the result was an eye-watering nearly $50 million settlement. Goodness gracious me! Talk about a sting, right? However, it doesn’t end there, because California decided to hold its own little pow-wow and tossed in their hat with an additional $6.75 million settlement. It might be sunny in California, but it sure can rain heavily on big data companies!
But why stop for a breather now? Rob Bonta, a sort of friendly neighborhood Attorney General from California, went on to give his two pennies worth. He announced this settlement with Blackbaud like a trumpeteer in the court, alerting everyone to what happened in a modern-day public shaming on steroids.
But the crux of the matter comes down to this: How did this South Carolina-based company find itself in the middle of such a storm?
Blackbaud, for those not in the know, aren’t some back-street hackers or secret society, but a legitimate company. Only, they happened upon some very unfortunate events. It was like falling down the rabbit hole and finding out the Queen of Hearts had your personal info. Not a pleasant scenario to say the least.
As it goes in the health industry, or any industry dealing with sensitive data for that matter, privacy and security are paramount. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry trust these companies when sharing their personal information. It’s a matter of trust, right?
So, what’s the takeaway here, darlings? At the end of the day, it’s a rough old world out there, particularly in the realm of data and cybersecurity. However, there’s a stiff upper lip to be kept and lessons to be learned from this tale.
We must always remind ourselves, be it in healthcare, cybersecurity, or any field, that the safekeeping of data is a responsibility cheek by jowl with trust. For the love of crumpets, let’s remember it’s not all about the quid but in maintaining the confidence bestowed upon us.
There we have it, a little cautionary tale from over the pond that serves to remind us, whether we are Brits navigating the world of healthcare or experts in the field of cybersecurity, the importance of maintaining trust. And should that trust be broken, prepare for an expensive round.
So, during your next tea break, as you think about this tale, remember—hold your scones close, and your data closer.
by Parker Bytes
