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Organizations, including insurance companies, must protect customers’ personal information: poll


October 23, 2013   by Canadian Underwriter


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Almost half of the respondents to a recent online survey in the United States would switch insurance companies if their personal information was stolen, reports Cincinnati-based Cintas Corporation.

More specifically, 46% of respondents to the survey – conducted in late August by Harris Interactive on behalf of Cintas and involving 2,061 people 18 and older – would switch insurance companies.

Overall, about two-thirds of respondents would not return to a business if their personal information, such as social security or credit card numbers, was stolen, notes a statement from Cintas, which provides highly specialized services to businesses, primarily throughout North America.

“With every data breach comes a cost, including lost productivity, a damaged reputation, and most importantly, decreased revenue when customers take their business elsewhere,” Cintas marketing manager John Otten says, emphasizing the need to make security a priority.

Cintas reports that poll results provide insight into what types of businesses consumers would most likely stop patronizing if their confidential information was stolen. Respondents note that if their personal data was compromised, the actions they would take include the following:

  • 55% would change banks;
  • 42% would go to a different drug store/pharmacy;
  • 40% would get a new doctor or dentist;
  • 39% would get a new lawyer; and
  • 35% would not return to their hospital.

“Businesses must be proactive in protecting data by using secure document management solutions that guard confidential business, employee and customer information,” Otten says


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