Pressure continues mounting on companies to ensure responsible data security measures are in place, with Mississippi becoming the newest state to pass a law requiring that businesses notify customers and others impacted by a data breach.
The law — and the dozens of laws like it in other states — aim to reduce the window between a breach’s discovery and the time it takes for customers and law enforcement to be notified. Considering the vast scope of data security issues facing U.S. businesses today, the rule increases the pressure and expense on businesses, but it also may help mitigate some of the damage that takes place once data is breached.
And it may also have the effect of encouraging stepped-up security efforts by businesses. eSecurity Planet takes a look.
Mississippi this week became the 46th state to pass legislation requiring businesses and government agencies to immediately notify people when their personal information has been compromised by either an accidental or deliberate data breach.
House Bill 583, which was signed into law this week by Gov. Haley Barbour, goes into effect on July 1 and requires “any person who conducts business” in the state to disclose any breach to all affected individuals without unreasonable delay.