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The Data Breach Epidemic: A Wake-Up Call for Data Hygiene 

By |2025-06-02T14:59:09+00:00June 2nd, 2025|

Earlier this month, cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler uncovered an unsecured database containing over 184 million login credentials. This trove included usernames and passwords for major platforms such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, as well as sensitive data from bank accounts, health services, and government portals. Alarmingly, the database was unencrypted and publicly accessible, making it a "cybercriminal's dream".  Closer to home, you can’t fail to have missed M&S’ significant cyberattack, leading to the theft of customer data, including contact details and order histories. The breach disrupted online operations and is projected to cost the company approximately £300 million in lost operating profit. The attack was reportedly executed by the cybercriminal group Scattered Spider, exploiting vulnerabilities in third-party [...]

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What’s Going on with the Data (Use and Access) Bill?

By |2025-05-14T11:02:06+00:00May 14th, 2025|

On 14th May 2025, the UK’s Data (Use and Access) Bill reached a critical stage in Parliament, following heated debate over its implications for AI, copyright, and how data is shared. While the headlines have focused on creative rights and artificial intelligence, there’s a bigger picture emerging — one that matters to anyone involved in managing, using, or maintaining quality data. Originally introduced in late 2024, the bill aims to improve how data is accessed and used across the public and private sectors. It supports initiatives like digital ID systems and encourages wider data sharing to unlock innovation. But as it moves between the House of Commons and the Lords, disagreement over specific provisions — particularly a new transparency requirement [...]

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Why the Campaign for Better Data Matters — and Why Data Hygiene is the Foundation

By |2025-05-07T09:21:22+00:00May 7th, 2025|

At The Software Bureau, we welcome the Market Research Society’s Campaign for Better Data. While it may sit adjacent to our core area of data processing, we believe the campaign’s central theme — building trust and credibility in data — is critical across every part of the marketing and insight ecosystem. With the UK Government positioning the nation as a leader in AI, the spotlight is rightly falling on the quality of the data feeding these tools. As recent studies have shown, there’s a growing gulf between organisations’ AI ambitions and the reality of their data capabilities. Misinformation, survey fraud, and outdated practices threaten to undermine not only AI, but also the credibility of every campaign or insight generated from [...]

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Automation vs Accuracy: Striking the Right Balance in Data Handling

By |2025-04-30T17:03:29+00:00April 30th, 2025|

New stats out this week show that last year EU regulators imposed over €1.2 billion in fines for data protection violations, including a €310 million penalty against LinkedIn for unlawful data processing practices. While the ICO has taken a more restrained approach, issuing fewer fines in 2024, the message is clear: data governance lapses can lead to significant financial and reputational damage.​ In this regulatory climate, many marketers are rightly embracing automation to streamline operations and reduce human mistakes leading to non-compliance. When combined with strong data hygiene practices, automation can drive incredible efficiency and accuracy. However, without the right safeguards in place, it can also unintentionally amplify errors — leading to wasted resources and potential regulatory risk. At The [...]

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Data Powers Progress – But People Still Make It Happen

By |2025-04-01T12:54:21+00:00April 1st, 2025|

We’re living in a data-first world. Whether it’s driving marketing campaigns, optimising customer experiences, or ensuring regulatory compliance, data is the fuel behind every smart decision. But while automation and AI are accelerating what’s possible, it's the human element that ensures data is collected properly, understood, and turned into action. Striking the right balance between automation and human insight is now a defining trait of high-performing organisations. Machines can process at speed and scale, but people provide context, creativity, judgement, and communication. That balance is also reflected in LinkedIn’s latest report on the 15 fastest-growing skills in the UK. Unsurprisingly, AI literacy and the ability to work with large language models are rising rapidly. But so too are deeply human [...]

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23andMe Collapse Sparks Urgent Questions About Data Responsibility

By |2025-03-26T11:15:47+00:00March 26th, 2025|

Once a Silicon Valley darling, DNA testing company 23andMe has now gone into administration—leaving behind not just a troubled balance sheet, but a trove of highly sensitive personal data. Millions of customers entrusted the firm with their genetic information, family histories, and health predispositions. Now, the burning question: what happens to that data? The debate has ignited fears over data ownership, consent, and corporate accountability. In the UK, administrators are bound by GDPR, but the worry remains that valuable genetic data could be sold to settle debts, repurposed without consent, or exposed through weak security controls. This situation highlights a deeper issue: data stewardship isn’t just a technical obligation—it’s a moral one. Companies handling sensitive personal data, especially of the [...]

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Why accurate data matters for outdated demographics

By |2025-03-19T12:34:15+00:00March 19th, 2025|

According to a study by Adlook marketers and agencies are wasting budgets and raising privacy concerns by relying on outdated demographic targeting. The research reveals major flaws in traditional segmentation methods based on age, gender, income, and lifestyle, highlighting the need for more accurate, privacy-conscious solutions. The Flaws in Demographic Targeting Adlook surveyed 1,325 online consumers to determine if they identified with the socio-demographic segments assigned to them through third-party cookie data. Results showed a significant disconnect between targeting assumptions and actual audience composition. For example, only 18% of those targeted as “Women 18-24” fit that profile, while 43% were men and 35% were over 55. Similarly, 52% of the “Mums” segment were men, and 62% had no children. Even [...]

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Direct mail read rates rocket!

By |2025-03-11T16:20:54+00:00March 11th, 2025|

Direct mail continues to be one of the most effective marketing channels, with the latest JICMail data revealing that 77% of mail was read or looked at in Q4 2024—an all-time high since tracking began. At a time when digital channels are becoming more saturated and ad fraud is on the rise, mail has proven its ability to cut through the noise and drive meaningful consumer action. Unmatched Engagement and Response Rates JICMail’s data highlights the growing impact of mail across various industries, including grocery, charity, travel, finance, and healthcare. Business mail commanded the highest attention span, with an average of 191 seconds of engagement per item, while direct mail held attention for 133 seconds across a 28-day period. But [...]

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Why Data Hygiene Should Be a Top Priority for Local Councils

By |2025-03-03T11:15:34+00:00March 3rd, 2025|

Local councils handle vast amounts of personal data, from council tax records to voter registration and social services. Yet, poor data hygiene remains a widespread issue, leading to inefficiencies, wasted resources, and non-compliance with data protection laws. Only recently one local council hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons - mistakenly telling one of their constituents that he was dead! Mistakes happen, but at a time when public sector budgets are stretched, councils simply cannot afford to overlook data accuracy. Every inaccurate record comes at a cost, whether through: Wasted communications – Sending letters to people who have moved or passed away is not just inefficient, it reflects poorly on the council’s ability to manage records. Delayed services – [...]

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ICO launches Direct Marketing Advice Generator

By |2025-02-12T10:58:31+00:00February 12th, 2025|

The ICO has launched a Direct Marketing Advice Generator, designed to help organisations quickly understand their obligations under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and the UK GDPR. By answering a few simple questions, businesses can receive tailored compliance advice in minutes, covering everything from email and SMS marketing to social media, telemarketing, and direct mail. Why Does This Matter? Failure to comply with marketing laws doesn’t just lead to disgruntled customers—it can result in hefty fines and reputational damage. In recent enforcement action, the ICO fined Money Bubble Ltd and Breathe Services Ltd a total of £290,000 after they collectively made over 4.5 million nuisance phone calls to people who had opted out. Another investigation led to Quick [...]

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