Report: Transparency needed in data breach responses

Companies that have experienced an online security breach are encouraged to focus on their customers and be truthful regarding the incident, according to a recent ZDNet report.

The news source cited Gartner research director Rob MacMillan, who said businesses are in a precarious position for several reasons. When a company experiences an attack, it wants to be honest with its audience, but also keep confidential information close to the vest so data is not compromised during the investigation.

Frost & Sullivan industry analyst Aliza Shima Mohammad Kasim said one way companies can ensure they remain honest with customers is to constantly update their security measures. According to the expert, this will establish greater trust because people will know they are not using a previously compromised site, ZDNet reported.

Although organizations should be truthful with their customers, it may be difficult to defend against a continued onslaught of cyberattacks. According to a study by a security vendor, there were 3.5 threats created each second in 2011. The company noted that popular platforms such as social media and proliferation of mobile devices accelerated this growth.