OAIC Guide Helps Organisations Respond to Data Breaches
The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) has released a new Quick Reference Guide for Responding to Data Breaches, providing organisations with a practical overview of their obligations under the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme.
The guide outlines four key steps to managing a data breach: contain the breach, assess the risks, notify affected individuals and the OAIC where required, and review the incident to prevent future occurrences. It also helps organisations determine whether a breach is considered an eligible data breach, requiring mandatory notification under the Privacy Act.
For records and information management professionals, the guide reinforces the importance of having robust incident response processes, clear governance arrangements and well-managed information assets to minimise risk and support timely decision-making during a breach.
With cyber incidents and privacy risks continuing to rise, organisations should ensure their data breach response plans are current, tested and aligned with their legal obligations.