“Preventing and managing data breaches have become two of the highest priorities facing businesses today. To help executives plan ahead, Experian Data Breach Resolution announces the release of its second annual Data Breach Industry Forecast, a complimentary white paper outlining key issues and trends to watch for in 2015. Many evolving factors such as new threats, regulatory changes and technological advances make the data breach landscape difficult to navigate. After handling more than 3,000 data breaches this year and with a decade of experience in the industry, Experian Data Breach Resolution will share six key predictions in the white paper. This latest forecast highlights legislative and medical identity theft topics as well… The white paper addresses several data breach industry topics:

• The rise — and fall — of payment breaches
Adoption requirements for Europay, MasterCard and Visa (EMV) “Chip and PIN” technology being implemented later this year may drive an increase in the frequency of payment breaches as the window closes for hackers to profit from this type of attack on brick-and-mortar retailers. However, businesses should be wary of the potential for the new infrastructure creating a false sense of security for consumers.

• The persistent and growing threat of healthcare breaches
The expanding number of access points to Protected Health Information (PHI) and other sensitive data via electronic medical records and the growing popularity of wearable technology make the healthcare industry a vulnerable and attractive target for cybercriminals. Several factors suggest the healthcare industry will continue to be plagued with data breach headlines in 2015.

• A fresh breach surface via the Internet of Things
Like it or not, the Internet of Things is spreading rapidly, offering a wide range of benefits for businesses looking to review data and optimize performance. More devices are being created with Wi-Fi capabilities and sensors that create the opportunity for everyday items to relay information over the Internet and communicate with each other. As more companies adopt interconnected systems and products, cyberattacks also will likely increase via data accessed from third-party vendors.”