As we learn more about themechanisms behind the massive Target data breach, the very realrisks posed by third-party network access come into sharper focus.Credit unions, like organizations in nearly every other sector,often rely on vendors and other external partners to perform avariety of functions, such as payroll processing, benefitsadministration, facility maintenance and even employeetraining.

While these outside relationships are crucial, vendors' accessto sensitive data must be closely managed as part of theorganization's broader breach prevention strategy. Fortunately,credit unions have a number of tools available that can reduce therisk of vendor access and help the company maintain a strongsecurity posture.

The implementation of effective security protocols begins with adetermination of which data sets require the highest levels ofprotection. Credit unions and other financial institutions manageand store many different types of highly confidential data – memberaccount numbers, Social Security numbers and other personalinformation.