The Identity Theft Resource Center has released new research citing a 69% increase in data breach disclosures in 2008.   The top reason for a data breach continues to be lost or stolen laptops, but “insider” theft increased percentage wise to nearly 16% of the breaches reported.  Forty-four states and DC now have data breach notification laws, so data breach plans must rising in importance to compliance officers and business managers.  Kudos to the ITRC for the detailed research.

• Was 2007 the Year of the Data Breach?
• Medical ID Theft Tricky to Notice and Resolve