Every few months or so, there is a breach penalty which stands out among others. In this instance, it is the Dixons Carphone, which has been the recipient of a £500,000 fine in response to exposing the details of 5.6 million payment cards.

So here we are. At that juncture which we have all be expecting, where warning and preparation meet reality. The GDPR has delivered intention of its first astronomical penalty value, with British Airways in its cross-hairs, to the tune of £183 million.

After last years high-profile data breach, it was expected that British Airways would be made an example of; and what an example it is.

We are often told that security is a game of when, not if - data breaches and cyber attacks for a long time have not been a roll of the dice but instead, a ticking clock. Cybercrime is such a lucrative and somewhat untraceable activity that the cross-hairs do not discriminate.

For some, it might have felt like the GDPR was a little bit of an anti-climax. Relative hysteria in the build up to May 2018 has not led to the end of marketing departments, mass administration of fined companies or denial of service by DPIA's.

Instead, in the 12 months since its enforcement, all has been a little quiet.

Or has it?

By now I am sure you have seen and read enough IT security "predictions" for 2019. As cynical as it may seem, I often chuckle at the alignment of an author's predictions and the solutions and services that they sell. Coincidence? Or good marketing?

There are many myths surrounding the creation and naming of Black Friday, that yearly American imported shopping bonanza, which seemingly includes almost anything these days. Including, the dark web where it was reported that cyber criminal gangs were selling stolen credit card details at a limited discount.

With less than 100 days to go until the enforcement of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and the relevance of this blog post on a short time span, a certain level of panic may begin to consume those who have only just started to take this subject seriously.

Uber, the world's most famous disruptor of the taxi industry has never been short of controversy. Whether it be accusations of poor employment practices, sexual harassment at HQ or their never ending legal duels with various city councils, the workload for Uber’s public relations department is certainly colourful to say the least.

Ever since the invention of the sundial, nothing has haunted humanity more than a lack of time. Mans curse to bear forever since is to periodically mutter the phrase "there's not enough hours in the day" in the hope the planet may spin a little slower and grant us our wish. It hasn't worked yet.

Big network breaches are becoming the norm with little resistance seemingly being placed in the attackers path. Is this the world we must become accustomed to living in? or can technology be part of the solution rather than just the problem?