With corporate data breaches and data broker activity at an all-time high, personal information is more vulnerable than ever. As Cybersecurity Awareness Month unfolds, Human Resource teams must focus on educating employees on the growing importance of online privacy and cybersecurity in our interconnected world. This article covers the increasing threat of data breaches, the rise of data brokers, employees’ privacy concerns and proactive steps employers can take to help their workforce regain control over their personal information.
The growing threat of data breaches
The digital age has revolutionized how we manage and share personal information, but it’s also introduced new risks. In the first half of 2024, there were 653 reported data breaches impacting over 1 billion victims — a 490% increase compared to the same period in 2023.1 As these incidents grow in frequency and severity, the importance of data privacy awareness and stronger personal cybersecurity protections becomes undeniable.
Employee personally identifiable information adds another layer of vulnerability in the workplace. HR and benefits administration technology handles large amounts of personal data — from census information shared with insurance carriers to payroll details processed by third-party vendors. A recent example is the WebTPA breach, where over 2 million benefit plan members had some of their protected health information stolen.2