What the Logezy Data Breach Reveals About Data Protection
In today’s digital workplace, companies are increasingly relying on workforce management software to streamline everything from recruitment and compliance to payroll and scheduling. While these platforms offer convenience and efficiency, they also carry significant risks—especially when it comes to data protection. The recent data breach linked to UK-based software provider Logezy illustrates how vulnerable sensitive employee data can be when trusted to third-party platforms.
The breach involved an unprotected database that exposed nearly 8 million files, including government-issued IDs, work authorization documents, timesheets, and even electronic signatures. Most of the records appeared to belong to healthcare workers, a group already working under high-stress conditions and bound by strict privacy standards. The database, which was neither encrypted nor password-protected, was accessible to anyone who discovered its URL. While access was eventually restricted after a responsible disclosure, it remains unclear how long the data was exposed or if it had been accessed by malicious actors. This incident raises a crucial question: What can employees do when they have no say in how their personal information is stored or secured?
The Risks Behind the Software
Workforce management platforms often require extensive personal data to function properly—everything from national insurance numbers to scanned IDs and bank details. Companies entrust this information to third-party providers under the assumption that the software is secure and compliant with data protection regulations like GDPR. But as the Logezy case shows, even well-known vendors can fall short when it comes to basic security practices. A single misconfigured database or lapse in oversight can compromise millions of personal records.
Employees rarely get a say in what software their employers choose, and even less control over how their data is stored. This creates a power imbalance where workers are expected to provide sensitive information but must blindly trust that it will be handled responsibly. Unfortunately, many only learn about vulnerabilities after a breach has occurred—and by then, it may be too late to prevent harm.
What Can Employees Do?
While employees can’t always control where or how their data is stored, there are a few steps they can take to better protect themselves:
- Ask Questions – Inquire about how your employer stores your personal data and which third-party services are used. Transparency can sometimes prompt better practices.
- Monitor for Identity Theft – If a breach occurs, stay alert for suspicious activity in your financial accounts and consider using identity monitoring services.
- Limit Shared Data – Only provide information that is legally required or essential for your role. Avoid uploading documents or photos unless necessary.
- Exercise Data Rights – Under GDPR and other data protection laws, employees have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of their data. Use these rights when appropriate.
- Report Concerns – If you suspect your data has been mishandled, report it to your organization’s data protection officer or directly to a regulatory body like the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
The Logezy breach serves as a stark reminder that even digital tools meant to make work easier can pose serious risks when data security is neglected. Employers must vet their software vendors thoroughly and enforce strong cybersecurity standards. But employees should also stay informed and proactive, even if they can’t directly influence how their data is handled. In the modern workplace, protecting personal information is a shared responsibility—one that deserves far more attention than it often gets.