In addition, 81% of Britons and 83% of Australians have similar concerns, according to a survey of 5,246 adults – 2,168 Americans, 2,117 Britons, and 961 Australians – by Harris Interactive for SailPoint.
In all three regions, the growing use of electronic medical records is a main concern because adults believe that having healthcare organizations manage their personal data electronically exposes them to more risk.
“Many people are concerned about the [security of] their medical records. This seems to have an immediacy for them”, commented Jackie Gilbert, vice president of product management and marketing at SailPoint.
Specifically, of the adults in these countries who have personal medical information: 29% of Americans, 26% of Britons, and 30% of Australians are most concerned that medical records being made available electronically might result in those records being exposed on the internet. In addition, 35% of Americans, 33% of Britons, and 37% of these Australians are most concerned about their private information being used to steal their identity.
Consumers are “quite correct in worrying about identity theft” because healthcare information includes social security numbers, names, addresses, and birthdays, “the kind of information needed to commit identity theft”, Gilbert told Infosecurity.
Also, 10% of Americans, 14% of Britons, and 11% of Australians are most concerned about staff members not directly related with their care being able to view their private data. Finally, 5% of Americans, 5% of Britons, and 3% of Australians were concerned about the possibility that an employer could learn about a private health condition.
The survey also indicates that a security breach at a financial institution or retailer can impact customer loyalty: 16% of Americans, 24% of Britons, and 26% of Australians said they would no longer do business with a bank, credit card company, or retailer if a security breach occurred that potentially exposed their personal and financial information to theft.
Within these groups, 10% of Americans, 14% of Britons, and 16% of Australians would not only not do business with that organization, but also would tell their family and friends not to do business with that same organization.
“There is obviously a brand loyalty price for data breaches….An erosion in brand of 20% to 25% is really significant to a company. It’s hard to put a price on it. We are trying to underscore that there are more costs associated with a breach than fines or clean up. You are paying a long-term price in customers leaving your brand for a competitor”, Gilbert said.