6 April 10

Information Commissioner's Office empowered to issue £500k fines from today

The ICO's new power to issue monetary penalties came into force on 6 April 2010, allowing the ICO to serve notices requiring organisations to pay up to £500,000 for serious breaches of the Data Protection Act.

“Good data controllers will know not to overreact to this news.  They will already have procedures to properly handle personal data in accordance with the Act” says Stephen Hoare, Kensington’s Security Business Development Director.

Common sense policies combined with an office culture that fosters and expects security lock usage can be quickly implemented by adopting the principles set out in Kensington’s Corporate Security Policy.  The policy is written by research analysts IDC and can be easily implemented by organisations large and small.

Hoare concludes: “Organisations will find that the policy document can be the catalyst of cultural change to safeguard itself, its employees and its customers against the chain reaction of disastrous events that can be triggered by the optimistic theft of an unprotected laptop.” 

Start a cultural change in your office today by creating your own awareness poster: http://www.kensingtoneurope.com/posters.aspx?language=en

Kensington were proud to support the Council of Europe’s Data Protection Day in January when it officially announced it’s Logon-Lockon campaign.  Visit the campaign microsite to download Kensington’s Corporate Security Policy.

Free Security Policy Download:
http://www.kensingtoneurope.com/logonLockon/en/2/security-policy.aspx

More information about Kensington LOGON-LOCKON campaign:
http://www.logon-lockon.com

More information from the ICO
http://www.ico.gov.uk/what_we_cover/data_protection/our_legal_powers.aspx

More information about the Data Privacy Day initiative:
http://dataprivacyday2010.org/

Notes to editors

About Kensington

Kensington is the worldwide leader in mobile computing solutions. It puts innovation, creativity and reliability into every product made, from mobile power to notebook security, iPhone® accessories to ergonomically-designed cases. In total, Kensington offers over 300 smart made simple accessories for use in the office, at home and on the move.

Kensington Europe is headquartered in Aylesbury, England. Kensington Computer Peripherals is the technology division of the office products group ACCO Brands Inc.

For more information visit www.kensington.com and www.accoeurope.com

For further press information, please contact: 

Magdalena Kijek
Tel: + 44 (0)1296 732079
Email: magdalena.kijek@kensington.com