Posted On December 10, 2022 Consumer Privacy & Data Breaches
December 10, 2022 – News outlets reported that Sequoia recently provided notice of a data breach to individuals affected by a recent data security incident that exposed their sensitive information. While Sequoia has yet to file official notice of the breach, based on preliminary reports, it appears that the incident may have exposed the following customer information: names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, work email addresses, wage data, member IDs, Covid-19 test results, and vaccine card images. After confirming that consumer data was leaked, Sequoia began sending out data breach notification letters to all individuals who were impacted by the recent data security incident.
If you received a data breach notification, it is essential you understand what is at risk. The data breach lawyers at Console & Associates, P.C. are actively investigating the Sequoia data breach on behalf of people whose information was exposed. As a part of this investigation, we are providing free consultations to anyone affected by the breach who is interested in learning more about the risks of identity theft, what they can do to protect themselves, and what their legal options may be to obtain compensation from Sequoia.
The available information regarding the Sequoia breach comes a recent WIRED report. According to this source, recently, Sequoia learned of a potential data security incident related to unauthorized access to a cloud storage repository that contained information related to the company’s Sequoia One customers. In response, the company secured its network and then began working with a third-party data security firm to determine the nature and extent of the incident, as well as what consumer data may have been leaked.
Upon discovering that sensitive consumer data was made available to an unauthorized party, Sequoia began to review the affected files to determine what information was compromised and which consumers were impacted. This process is apparently still underway; however, WIRED reports that the compromised data includes the following consumer information: names, addresses, dates of birth, gender, marital status, employment status, Social Security numbers, work email addresses, wage data related to benefits, and member IDs as well as any other ID cards, Covid-19 test results, and vaccine cards.
Recently, Sequoia sent out data breach letters to all individuals whose information was compromised as a result of the recent data security incident. There is not yet any indication how many people were affected by the Sequoia One data breach
Sequoia One is a professional employer organization (“PEO”) based in San Francisco, California. As a PEO, Sequoia One provides outsourced HR, benefits, and payroll services, allowing small and growing businesses to focus on growth. Sequoia One is one of several products offered by Sequoia, the large human resources software company based in San Mateo, California. Sequoia employs more than 877 people and generates approximately $184 million in annual revenue.
As a general rule, any company that stores consumer data owes the owner of that data a duty to keep it safe and free from unauthorized access. If a company experiences a data breach resulting in a consumer’s data ending up in the hands of a criminal, the company may be financially liable for the victim’s damages. However, a company is not automatically liable to victims of a breach merely because a breach occurred. It is only when a company’s negligence contributed to the breach that it can be held responsible.
Under existing data breach laws, a company can be negligent in how it maintains consumer data in a variety of different ways. Below are a few of the ways a company can violate the duty owed to consumers to protect their information:
Of course, these are just a few examples of negligence; there are many others. The bottom line is that large companies are the first and last line of defense against these data breaches, and it is incumbent upon them to take the necessary precautions to protect consumers from hackers trying to steal their information. For example, companies can reduce the risk of a cyberattack by developing a robust data security system and a commitment to training employees about the risks of phishing attacks.
Data breach victims who want to learn more about their rights, what they can do to protect themselves, or how they can pursue a data breach lawsuit after their information was leaked should reach out to an experienced data breach lawyer for assistance.
At Console & Associates, P.C., our consumer privacy lawyers monitor all security and data breaches to help affected consumers pursue their legal remedies. We offer free consultations to victims of data breaches and can explain your rights in clear, understandable terms so you can make an informed decision about how to proceed with your case. If you’ve been affected by the Sequoia data breach or any other data security incident, Console & Associates, P.C., will investigate your case at no charge and offer you thorough advice about how to most effectively proceed with your case. If you decide to bring a case, we only get paid if you do. If your claim is successful, any legal fees are either paid by the defendant or come out of the funds recovered from the defendant. If your claim doesn’t result in a recovery, you will pay nothing.
To schedule your free consultation, just call (866) 778-5500 today or fill out our secure contact form.
