Risk management consultancy and training services

Call Us:

(+61) 400 666 142

Location

Canberra ACT 2600

Another entry in the ‘how could this happen’ club

Another entry in the ‘how could this happen’ club

I have been very outspoken on the fact that, although it is a cause, cyber-attack is not the risk.  In Brisbane recently, there was a very sobering reminder of this when a large parcel of patients’ medical documents, earmarked for destruction, were lost on a busy Brisbane road.

As reported by the ABC, The documents had been picked up at the hospital in Herston by a contractor and were to be taken to a destruction facility. But the documents never arrived at their destination – instead they were found on the side of the road.

As a reminder, this was one of the causes I detailed against the risk: Unauthorised release of confidential information in that blog.

Files (hard or electronic) lost while in the possession of a person in transit Laptop lapses which embarrassed government (multiple examples)Fostering files left in street

It is a timely reminder that if all of our focus is on the cyber cause, we are still not managing the risk. To do that, all causes need to be addressed because the physical handling of files and the management of files in a digital format both have the same outcome if not done appropriately – a potential unauthorised release of confidential information.

Written by Leena Renkauskas

Rod is an accomplished risk consultant with extensive experience in the delivery of professional consultancy services to government, corporate and not-for-profit sectors. Rod takes every opportunity available to ensure his risk management knowledge remains at the ‘cutting edge’ of the discipline. Rod’s Risk Management expertise is highly sought after as is the insight he provides in his risk management training and workshop facilitation. Rod was recognised by the Risk Management Institution of Australia as the 2016 Risk Consultant of the Year and one of the first five Certified Chief Risk Officers in Australasia.