Securing client data from the risks of theft

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THE £1m fine meted out to Nationwide by the FSA after a laptop was stolen from an employee's home has rapidly brought the issue of client data protection to advisers' attention.

Although the regulator says the fine was for “larger failings” within the building society’s security systems, rather than for the theft itself, IFAs are beginning to ask: Just what is expected of us? Jim Clancy, of Clancy’s Financial Planning, says the fine worried him, especially after he had his laptop computer stolen during a recent trip to London. “What controls can we advisers really put in place?” he says. “Sometimes you can’t help but have valuable information on your laptop. I could have everything on there: life policies, quotes, mortgage details. You can password protect yo...

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