Fidelity Investments Life Insurance Company (FILI) faces another data breach challenge as it discloses a breach affecting a significant number of individuals. The breach, linked to third-party service provider Infosys McCamish (IMS), heightens worries over data security in today's digital landscape. 

Approximately 28,268 individuals have been notified by Fidelity regarding the breach. Although IMS could not pinpoint the exact data accessed, it is suspected to include sensitive information like names, Social Security numbers, states of residence, bank account and routing numbers, and dates of birth. 

This unfortunate incident marks the second instance this year alone where Fidelity has had to inform customers of data compromise due to a third-party breach involving IMS. Last month, Bank of America faced a similar ordeal following a ransomware attack on IMS, affecting over 57,000 customers. 

Remarkably, the data accessed in both breaches appears to be of a similar nature, prompting concerns over the underlying vulnerability in IMS's systems. As investigations into the breach continue, questions loom over whether IMS's woes are linked to the same cyber incident. 

Essentially, it occurs when a vendor or supplier's system is compromised, resulting in the theft of data belonging to you or your organization. This means that even though you may have entrusted your data to a third party for various services or goods, their system becomes a target for cybercriminals. 

But who exactly are these third parties? 

They are organizations with which your company has established a business relationship to provide goods, access, or services for your use. These critical third parties often require access to sensitive data to fulfil their services, thereby increasing your company's attack surface. 

Why is this a cause for concern? 

Well, when a critical third party experiences a breach, it can have severe repercussions for your organization. Not only does it compromise the security of your data, but it also exposes you to significant risks. This underscores the importance of thoroughly vetting and monitoring third-party vendors to mitigate potential security threats. 

In essence, understanding third-party data breaches is crucial for safeguarding your organization's data and reputation. By implementing robust security measures and carefully managing your business relationships, you can better protect yourself against the risks posed by third-party breaches. 

Fidelity Investments, headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, has been a powerhouse in the financial services sector since its founding in 1946. Boasting $4.3 trillion in assets under management and $10.3 trillion under administration as of December 2022, Fidelity is globally recognized as one of the largest asset managers. Offering a comprehensive suite of financial solutions, including brokerage services, mutual funds management, investment advice, retirement planning, wealth management, and life insurance, Fidelity caters to a wide range of clients, from individual investors to institutional entities. 

Despite its robust security measures, the company has encountered cybersecurity challenges in the form of occasional breaches, impacting its operations and raising concerns about the security of customer data.