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Prior to joining RelianceACSN, John was a Verizon VP responsible for the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report, so this storyline is one he has been following closely.

“We thought the previous breach of 500 million user accounts was huge, but 1 billion is monumental. If Verizon were seeking a billion-dollar discount from the agreed $4.8bn takeover, then logically a breach twice the size should shave off a further $2bn. Of course this is speculation, and we will see how this ultimately plays out, but it reinforces that in today’s business environment, security goes further than the responsibility of the IT department. It’s a boardroom issue, and it’s quickly becoming personal. It’s personal for the billion-plus users whose details have probably been sold on the Dark Web for the last three years, and it’s personal for the shareholders who will likely lose a large portion of their investments. It’s personal for the board, the security team and troubled CEO Marissa Mayer who will be held personally accountable for this loss of data and capital.

“Unfortunately for everyone involved, this was likely the result of lapses in basic security hygiene and decision-makers who did not fully care or understand it. This isn’t something that should be tolerated in business, and the impending litmus test that will be the Verizon takeover. I think C-Suite and board members around the business community will be following this very closely, and reconsider their approach to security in proportion to losses Yahoo will suffer.”