Brunswick Corporation Addresses Previously Reported Data Security Incident
- None.
- Data security incident impacting personal data
- Unauthorized access to IT systems
- Potential impact on customer and employee trust
Insights
Understanding the breach's technicalities and its aftermath is crucial. The unauthorized access to Brunswick's IT systems indicates a potential compromise of internal controls. The deployment of security measures to contain the threat suggests that the company had some level of preparedness, but the effectiveness of these measures and the robustness of their cybersecurity infrastructure remain in question. The engagement of a leading incident response team is a positive step towards recovery and shows Brunswick's commitment to addressing the issue.
From a cybersecurity perspective, stakeholders should be aware of the implications such incidents can have on the company's reputation, potential regulatory fines and the costs associated with the recovery process, including IT upgrades and legal fees. The statement that there is no reason to believe personal data has been misused is cautiously optimistic but should not downplay the risk of future exploitation.
The legal ramifications of a data breach can be extensive. Brunswick's proactive notification to law enforcement and data protection authorities is a step in compliance with various global data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and similar laws in other jurisdictions. This action may mitigate potential legal consequences and fines. However, the breach could still lead to litigation risks, including class-action lawsuits from affected individuals and scrutiny from regulators.
Stakeholders should consider the long-term legal exposure and the possibility of stricter regulatory oversight as a result of this incident. Companies in similar situations often face increased compliance costs and must adopt more stringent data protection measures going forward.
For investors, the financial impact of a data breach can be significant. The immediate costs for Brunswick may include forensic investigations, system upgrades, legal expenses and potential fines. Over the long term, there could be indirect costs such as loss of customer trust, brand damage and decreased sales. However, if Brunswick manages the incident effectively and transparently, it can minimize these potential impacts.
Investors should monitor Brunswick's forthcoming financial disclosures for any quantification of the breach's impact. Additionally, the company's investment in cybersecurity and its strategy to prevent future incidents will be critical in assessing its resilience and long-term financial health.
METTAWA, Ill., Dec. 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brunswick Corporation (“Brunswick”) understands the importance of protecting personal data and retaining the trust of its customers and employees. Unfortunately, as noted in previous disclosures, Brunswick was the victim of a data security incident in June 2023. In response to this incident, Brunswick conducted a comprehensive and thorough investigation and identified that a limited amount of sensitive personal data in its custody or control was impacted by this incident. However, Brunswick has no reason to believe that any personal data has been misused or will be misused in the future.
What Happened? In June 2023, Brunswick discovered that a third party had gained unauthorized access to certain systems in its information technology (IT) environment. Brunswick immediately deployed security measures to contain and mitigate this threat and retained a leading incident response team to accelerate its recovery efforts. Brunswick proactively notified relevant law enforcement agencies and data protection authorities about this incident. Because of the substantial security controls implemented prior to this incident, Brunswick was able to quickly contain the threat and return to a normal state of business operations. In addition, Brunswick hired a data consultant to undertake a comprehensive review of the files and records impacted by this incident to identify whether any of them contained personal data. The consultants recently finished this review and thereafter Brunswick began notifying relevant individuals who could have been affected by this incident.
What Personal Data Was Impacted? As part of its thorough internal investigation, Brunswick discovered that an unauthorized third-party obtained access to a limited number of e-mail boxes and unstructured files that contained certain sensitive personal data.
What You Can Do. Based on the measures that Brunswick implemented, there is no indication that any sensitive personal data involved in this incident has been misused or will be misused in the future. However, out of an abundance of caution, Brunswick is providing certain individuals potentially affected by this incident with complimentary credit monitoring and identity theft protection services, where appropriate.
Current Employees: If you are a current Brunswick employee whose personal data was affected by the incident, you will receive a separate notice in the mail from Brunswick that provides instructions on how you can enroll in these services.
Customers/Suppliers/Former Employees: If you are a customer, supplier, or former employee of Brunswick, please inquire (via the phone number in the “For More Information” paragraph below) as to whether your sensitive personal data was subject to this incident and whether you are eligible to enroll in complimentary credit monitoring services.
For More Information. Brunswick has established a dedicated call center to answer questions you may have about this incident, which you can reach at 888-722-0568, Monday – Friday, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm (EST). More information is available at: https://www.brunswick.com/securityincident. You can also request to know which personal data Brunswick retains about you by submitting a Subject Access Request at https://www.brunswick.com/dsar.
Data Protection Officer – European Economic Area:
Brunswick’s Data Protection Officer’s contact information is as follows:
Felix Wittern – FieldFischer
dpo.brunswick@fieldfisher.com
Source: Brunswick Corporation, 26125 N. Riverwoods Blvd., Suite 500, Mettawa, Illinois 60045
FAQ
What data security incident did Brunswick Corporation disclose in June 2023?
What measures did Brunswick Corporation take in response to the data security incident?
Was any personal data impacted by the data security incident?
Has Brunswick Corporation confirmed any misuse of the impacted personal data?
Did Brunswick Corporation notify any authorities about the data security incident?
