Why do thieves target schools?  Your schools manage the personal, medical, financial, and business information of their entire communities.  This Confidential and Sensitive Information (CSI) comes in the form of student records, employee files, vendor records, statements, invoices, receipts, etc.  It is managed by faculty, staff, administration, volunteers, vendors, parents and students.  While we have done a great job securing our technology, case studies show that more than seventy percent of incidents are low-tech.

You may not realize that the Confidential and Sensitive Information in your care has more than operational value.  In the event of an information loss or breach, unprepared schools are subject to fines, penalties, and class action lawsuits.  (Those in your communities that become victims will be subject to much worse.)

Due to the serious nature of this issue, the MASB, MASA, MSBO and MIEM have teamed up with Identity Theft Loss Prevention, LLC in a state-wide campaign to prepare Michigan schools in making the reasonable effort required by law to detect, prevent, and mitigate loss resulting in identity theft. 

Click www.gomiem.org/event/2009/06/25/day  today for details about how to register for the June 25th information Compliance and Awareness Process Workshops.