OAIC Releases Quick Reference Guide for Responding to Data Breaches
Designed for organisations covered by the Privacy Act 1988, the guide outlines four essential steps to follow when a data breach occurs:
- Contain the breach to prevent further unauthorised access or disclosure.
- Assess the incident by determining what happened, the risks involved and whether it is an eligible data breach.
- Notify affected individuals and the OAIC where required under the NDB scheme.
- Review the incident and implement improvements to reduce the likelihood of future breaches.
The guide also includes a decision-making framework to help organisations determine whether a breach is likely to result in serious harm and therefore requires notification. Practical examples, a self-assessment checklist and links to further OAIC resources are included to support privacy compliance and incident response planning.
For records and information management professionals, the guide reinforces the importance of strong information governance, effective security controls and well-documented response procedures to minimise the impact of data breaches and meet legislative obligations.