TORONTO, ON. – August 22, 2012 – In today’s high-tech workplace, Canadian businesses are facing ever-increasing risks and costs of privacy breaches that can expose sensitive customer information. The risks are everywhere—arising both from inside and outside of businesses—particularly at organizations that hold a lot of personal customer data like insurance brokers, personal counsellors, property managers and financial institutions.

In response to the growing need for Canadian businesses to defend against the risks and costs of privacy breaches, Trisura Guarantee Insurance Company has partnered with CyberScout, North America’s premier identity management and data risk management services provider, to deliver proactive and reactive privacy breach services and tools. These services, which include education and training, are perfect for those companies that have a particularly high-risk rate.

Many businesses aren’t properly protecting their customers’ digitally stored information, according to a survey conducted by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC). Nearly 50 percent of companies that store personal information on portable devices like laptops, tablets and memory devices don’t encrypt the data—even though these devices are prone to being misplaced, lost or stolen. 
"Having appropriate breach preparation and response services can help Canadian businesses safeguard reputation, credibility and trust that could be damaged by exposure of consumer data or could lead to business failure," said Richard Grant, Trisura’s senior vice president of corporate risk. "In response to this critical need, we're providing policyholders with privacy breach tools, resources and services."

The privacy breach services provided to Trisura’s insureds include:

• An online breach website featuring exclusive resources to help business owners recognize data risks, as well as Canadian and provincial compliance laws and their notification requirements
• Access to CyberScout's online training tools to help businesses better understand privacy risks and manage their data liabilities
• On-call professional assistance to help handle a breach crisis• Response services to assist breach victims and help them avoid identity theft and fraud
• Plus, our insured’s employees will have access to identity management services to help protect against and recover from identity theft and fraud

"With our support, Trisura provides vulnerable Canadian companies with 24/7 access to privacy and regulatory requirements, steps to take if a breach happens, as well as our best-of-class e-learning platform and recovery assistance,” said Matt Cullina, CEO, CyberScout. “We’re thrilled Trisura has chosen us as their partner in helping their business customers safeguard their private information and their reputation in the community.”

To learn more about Trisura’s privacy breach services, please contact your insurance broker.