Potential Security Breaches from Vanishing Workplace Files

Abstract

Case Study From: To: I am writing to inform you on the possible effects that the organization and workforce might experience for the breach of security and confidentiality if the problem of file vanishing continues within our organization. It has come to my attention that files keep vanishing from one of my colleagues’ desk with no action taken by her immediate manager even after a series of report from my colleague. It is very sad to acknowledge the sensitivity of information that most files carry. Precisely, most files contain very sensitive personal information of workers while others contain very sensitive organization information. To this effect, if these files vanish in the hands of ill-motive characters, then there might emerge a breach of security and confidentiality of sensitive personal information. The information in the vanishing files might be used against the will of the owners which will destroy the reputation of our organization in a great manner as will be defined as working in contrary to the set WHS rules and regulations. What does WHS Act stipulates in relation to security and confidentiality of sensitive and personal information? Sensitive and personal information remains protected from breaches under the Privacy Act 1988 and breach of Confidentiality under Section 271 of the WHS Act. The Privacy Act 1988 contains the National Privacy Principles that cover Confidentiality requirements in the workplace whose principles apply to personal information and sensitive information. Personal information under this law involves any information whether true or false, recoded or not about an individual whose identity is apparent or can reasonably be ascertained from the available information. On the other hand, sensitive information includes any personal information about an individual’s records which in most cases remains disclosed in a file. Allowing the files to vanish without any action to stop the behaviour might lead to a breach of these laws which will be a...