An alliance for compliance.

(From Financial Director)

Byline: Tom Berry, deputy editor of Financial Director.

If you visit the government's website for information on data protection (www.dataprotection.gov.uk), its section on 'guidance and other publications' is divided into 15 subdivisions and comprises more than 100 documents, ranging from advice on how to comply, the act itself and even such gems as International Transfers Summary: 8th Principle. Is it any wonder UK businesses are less than enthralled by data protection legislation?

That's why Richard Thomas, the new Information Commissioner responsible for compliance, has made it his mission to shake up data protection. He is calling on UK businesses to get involved in making data protection - the legislation that governs the way businesses handle information about staff and customers, including personnel records, direct marketing activities and monitoring of employee emails and web usage - a key boardroom focus. Excited? I knew you would be.

In an interview with Financial Director, Thomas says that senior directors - especially FDs - should be taking notice of data protection. And compliance may even give businesses competitive edge. "I can stand up in front of senior executives and say with a straight face that data protection is good for you. Some people think data protection regulation is unacceptable, but we can persuade them they need to comply because of the risks posed to their organisation and the inefficiencies of getting information wrong or dealing with it insecurely," he says.

"Most companies work in a competitive environment - competing for customers and staff," he says. "If companies have lousy personal details about customers, suppliers or staff, they will suffer in the market."

But overcomplication of the act and guidance for business has meant that many businesses haven't paid enough attention to data protection.