California Attorney General Reports Upswing In Data Breaches

What's the News?

In October 2014, California Attorney General Kamala Harris released the California Data Breach Report, the state's most recent analysis of data security threats facing businesses and consumers. The Report, which notes a dramatic 28 percent increase in data breaches in California in 2013, serves as a reminder to businesses nationwide of the constant threat of increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals — and the need for new and better approaches to safeguarding sensitive information.

Retailers Are a Top Target

While data security is a serious concern across all industries, a key take away from the Report is the special vulnerability of retailers. Retail data breaches accounted for 26 percent of all reported breaches in 2013, more than any other sector of the economy. In addition, retail breaches have the potential to reveal massive amounts of stored information. In 2013, 84 percent of all breached records in California were the result of