BT subsidiary PlusNet is the latest company to admit it could have breached the Data Protection Act, facing a potential £500,000 fine, after it supplied data to a third party.

The BBC stated today that Amichai Shulman, chief technology officer of security firm Imperva, told them that the documents emerged not as the result of a security lapse, but following the corruption of their IT systems. “In the reconstruction process – which was probably done in haste – the archives with the sensitive data were copied to publicly accessible locations…. attackers immediately took advantage of that and downloaded them.”

A spokesperson for the Information Commissioner Office (ICO) told BBC News that there would be an ongoing investigation.

As more companies adopt the internet as a way of managing and transferring data, some are likely to find themselves at the wrong end of a major data breach – and substantial penalties.

Some companies don’t realise that data protection also relates to prospect data and those that use web-based prospect systems are potentially putting themselves at risk if the data provider uses an outsourced software company. Matthew Stone, Software Development Manager at Insight Data, elaborates; “most reputable suppliers of prospect data will have their own software and IT team to manage data, ensuring data is backed up and stored safely. However, some data suppliers use a third party software company which, while saving significant costs, is putting their customers at serious risk because the third party has full access to the customers data potentially breaching every data protection rule going.”

With news that Business Link has advised companies to credit check their CRM database suppliers (http://bit.ly/9KT2nX) the potential risk of dealing with a data supplier that uses a third party software company are greatly multiplied – if either one of them goes bust customers could end up loosing all their customer and prospect data as well as facing prosecution for breaches of data protection.

Insight Data is the only supplier of prospect data in the fenestration and building industry to manage data in-house with its own software and IT team, protecting clients and ensuring data is not made available to third parties.

For more information visit www.insightdata.co.uk, email info@insightdata.co.uk or call 01934 808293.

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Last Thursday, 16th September, saw the tenderly named PIGS (Publicity in Glazing Society) event kick off in London’s Leicester Square. Naturally the evening began with a round of mojito’s for the Insight team (all for Glassex research purposes I assure you) and then a flurry of meet, greet and sore feet – for the ladies at least!

For those I didn’t get the chance to talk to or who weren’t able to attend, let me introduce myself. My name’s Chrissy Panagi, and after three months training with Insight Data’s research team, I’ve now joined the marketing team at Purplex. I’ll be looking after the Insight Data blog from now on, regaling you all with Insight’s latest endeavours and all things relevant in the world of direct marketing.

Being new to the glazing industry, for me, the PIGS event was a chance to get to know the faces that most are so familiar with and hopefully familiarise my own with others! Not entirely sure what to expect, I arrived with an open mind and fistful of business cards. It soon became clear however, even to a relative industry novice, why PIGS is such a popular occasion (not just for the free alcohol!) but for the invaluable business opportunities it provides.

We saw the night through to the dreaded point of ‘lights on music off’, and while some of us needed more persuading than others to part with the bar, we eventually slumped into bed – only after sampling the best that China Town had to offer of course.

Waking the next morning, not so bright eyed and bushy tailed, the team enjoyed a very sophisticated McDonald’s breakfast on the floor of Paddington train station. And despite a mad dash for the train, a fairly questionable hotel mattress and some very sore trotters – excuse the pun – altogether a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

And with the next event scheduled for Tuesday 20 October during the Glassex exhibition in Birmingham it seems we’ve got it all to look forward to again.

Speaking of Glassex, be sure to catch us at Stand 4-A40 and enjoy a free mojito!

Contact Insight Data on 01934 808293, visit www.insightdata.co.uk or follow Insight on www.twitter.com/insightdata

WB Group Products, one of the Norths leading fabricators, has switched to Insight Data in a move to spearhead growth in the trade market.

Tony Craggs, Director of WB Group said “we were already using a well-known supplier of prospect data and had recently looked at their new online system, but several people had recommended Insight Data. We decided to compare both the quality of data and the online systems, and there was no competition – Insight was streets ahead on both accounts and we had no hesitation in switching over.”

WB Group Products was established in 1981 and is a major manufacturer of Duraflex windows and doors, GRP composite doors and pvc door infill panels. The company supplies the trade and operates from a state-of-art 70,000 square foot production facility in County Durham, employing almost 100 people.

“We have continued to grow successfully by focusing on quality and service, in particular our composite door suite is very much a front runner in the market place. We feel it’s imperative never to stand still, and that’s where Insight Data comes in. Using their database to promote our products has been hugely successful, sales continue to increase ” added Tony.

WB Group use Salestracker, the online database system developed by Insight Data.  The system has details of 14,202 window, door, and conservatory companies updated live in real time, and subscribers can use the data to target new prospects by direct mail, email, telesales or as a contact list for their sales team.

Helen Costeloe-Hughes, commercial director at Insight Data said; “WB Group is one of the Norths leading fabricators and we are delighted they have switched to Insight Data. We are looking forward to working with Tony and his team”.

Contact Insight Data on 01934 808293, visit www.insightdata.co.uk or follow Insight on www.twitter.com/insightdata