Recently, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is the agency that oversees communication laws in the United States, made a big decision. They fined AT&T, a well-known phone and internet company, $13 million. Why? Because AT&T didn’t take good enough care of people’s personal information that was kept by another company they were working with. This other company helps AT&T with some of their services, and this is called a third-party vendor.
The FCC found out that AT&T didn’t do what they were supposed to do to make sure their customer’s data was safe. In today’s world where we use the internet for almost everything, our personal information is very important. We expect companies to keep that information private and secure.
What is even more interesting about this fine is that the FCC is now saying that companies need to protect customer data not just on their own systems, but also in the cloud. The cloud is basically a way to store information on the internet instead of on your own computer or in a filing cabinet. It’s like having a digital safe deposit box that you can access from anywhere.
This big step by the FCC sends a message to all companies that they need to be very careful with our information, no matter where it’s stored. If they are not careful, there can be serious consequences, like what happened with AT&T.
Now, you might be thinking, “How can I keep my company’s customer data safe, especially if it’s stored in the cloud?” This part is essential and can get a bit tricky. But you are not alone in figuring it out.
The Diversified Outlook Group specializes in guiding companies to better protect customer information. Whether you are dealing with data held by a vendor or you’re moving to the cloud, their expertise can be a big help. If you want to learn more about keeping your data secure and avoiding fines like AT&T’s, you can reach out for advice and support at support@diversifiedoutlookgroup.com.
It’s important to take action and make sure that customer data is in safe hands, just as the FCC is showing through their actions. Be proactive, and get the help you need to protect your customers’ trust.
For more details on the AT&T case and to see how serious the FCC is taking these issues, check out the article here: www.darkreading.com/cybersecurity-operations/fcc-att-did-not-protect-cloud-data.
