1. Reporting personal data breaches to the ICO
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 1

2. I think we've had a personal data breach! What do we do next?!
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 2

3. DON'T PANIC!
You know it's happened, so you’re already taking control of the situation.
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 3

4. There are some important things to keep in mind when you’re starting to deal with a breach…
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 4

5. Containing the breach and recovering from the impact
Assessing the risk
Deciding who you need to inform
Learning from the incident
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 5

6. Containing the breach:
Establish a lead – this will often be the data protection officer or team, or it might be an external consultant. The main thing is that there is a point of contact for staff and customers and for the ICO if necessary.
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 6

7. Containing the breach:
They can provide instruction on steps to contain the breach, for example changing passwords, shutting computers down or halting network traffic.
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 7

8. Containing the breach:
They can also put immediate safeguards in place and, for example, provide instruction and authorisation to restore data from backups if that’s possible.
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 8

9. Containing the breach:
They should also be thinking about who will need to be informed, including the ICO, the data subjects, industry regulators and the police.
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 9

10. A breach can impact business transactions and
Risk Assessment:
A breach can impact business transactions and
your staff's ability to work, it can also harm your reputation, but remember the risk in a
personal data breach is to the data subjects.
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 10

11. Think about how this breach could cause these people harm.
Risk Assessment:
Think about how this breach could cause these people harm.
How sensitive is the data? Could this breach lead to distress, financial or even physical harm?
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 11

12. Are there more safeguards you can put in place now?
Risk Assessment:
Are there any safeguards in place that could lower the risk? For example, is the data encrypted? Has it gone to a trusted body?
Are there more safeguards you can put in place now?
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 12

13. Notification:
The GPDR brings in a requirement to report a personal data breach to the ICO unless you can demonstrate it's unlikely to result in a risk to individuals rights and freedoms.
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 13

14. Notification:
If there is a high risk to individuals’ rights and freedoms you will need to notify them. In fact, the ICO may require you to.
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 14

15. Notification – informing the ICO:
During office hours you can call our specialist team on
This is the best way to record the breach as we can work with you to understand what's happened, get all of the information we need and help you with the next steps.
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 15

16. Notification – informing the ICO:
You'll be able to explain the breach more clearly, we can ask any questions straight away and discuss how serious the breach is, and we can give advice on measures to take to contain the breach and whether you need to tell data subjects about what's happened. We’ll send you a copy of our record.
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 16

17. Notification – informing the ICO:
If you need to report and you can't reach us on the phone, if you already have a written report ready, or you have relevant documentation to send you can report via our website:
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 17

18. Informing the ICO: what we need from you
Our breach reporting team will be able to discuss the details we require, and don't forget; the GDPR allows you to report in stages.
But we will need a clear summary of what happened and when, and the steps that led to the breach.
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 18

19. Informing the ICO: what we need from you
How many people could be affected and how many records? Remember, one person might have multiple records and one record might mention multiple people.
What type of data has been breached? Is there any sensitive information?
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 19

20. Informing the ICO: what we need from you
What did you have in place that could have stopped it? Are your staff trained?
What steps have you taken so far to safeguard the data subjects? Are there any more steps you will take?
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 20

21. Informing the ICO: what we need from you
We will ask about the policies and procedures you have in place. Are they written down?
We will also ask whether staff are trained in the processes your organisation uses and if you provide guidance for them that they can use as a reference.
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 21

22. Informing the ICO: what we need from you
We’ll need to know about the security measures you have in place. This might be about password protection or network security, but might also be about locks on doors and cabinets.
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 22

23. Informing the ICO: what we need from you
What have you learned from this breach? How can you improve your practices? What have you done or will you do to stop a similar incident from happening again?
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 23

24. Informing the ICO: what happens next?
In most cases our reporting team will give you recommendations to help you put better measures in place to help prevent similar breaches in the future.
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 24

25. Informing the ICO: what happens next?
Sometimes we might need a bit more information from you. We’ll contact you by phone or . This is why reporting to us by phone is often the best way, we can try and cover everything in one call!
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 25

26. Informing the ICO: what happens next?
If a breach is serious, complex or involves a cyber incident we may need to carry out an in-depth investigation. We will contact you for more information.
Data Protection Practitioners’ Conference 2018
#DPPC2018 26