Workday Data Breach: Customer Info and Case Files Exposed

Have you ever felt that panic when you realize that you may have some important information that is exposed? That is exactly what has happened to Workday a popular software utilized by companies for Human Resources and payroll. They have confirmed a data breach that potentially compromised customer information and case files. To be completely honest, this news made me double-check all of my accounts!

Workday delivers enterprise cloud applications for finance, Human Resources (HR), and payroll, helping organizations effectively manage their business. They operate globally across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

What Happened?​

Here is the deal: some idiot or group accessed Workday’s system without authorization. So you understand this better, that means they accessed data they were not entitled to. It is not just names or emails; the data accessed could include case details and client or sensitive information. Think about your own payroll or HR files being compromised…uh, YIKES!

What could have been accessed?

• Employee data
• Customer account information
• Case Management files

Workday has indicated that they have dealt with the issue, as well as investigated how much data could have been impacted. However, it begs the question – can we ever feel truly safe in the data world?

Why This Matters​

Even if you don't engage with Workday, it is the primary (or secondary) provider of HR and payroll solutions for a number of companies. A breach like this can result in a number of things:

• Identity theft
• Compromised confidential business information
• Legal issues to companies

I remember a small hosting company got hacked once, and their clients had to scramble to change their passwords. It is always better to experience the problems of others than have to figure it out yourself!

How Workday is responding

Workday appears to give appropriate attention to the issue. They've:

• Identified affected systems
• Stopped access
• Communicated compromised clients
• Started an investigation

They've asked clients to review accounts and watch for suspicious activity. I'm impressed with how upfront they are about it; it looks like they have nothing to hide.

Safety Tips​

Why do hacks happen? There is no system that is 100% safe. What can you do?

• Make strong and unique passwords
• Use multi-factor authentication
• Look for unusual account activity

It's no different than locking your front door because your neighbor had a security system. Just smart!

To Conclude​

Data breaches are scary but remind us to be aware. Workday's hack shows us even large organizations can be hacked. Keep an eye out, watch your account, and don't wait until it's too late!