Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

security definition

What does security mean? In legal practice, security means money or other assets provided as a guarantee that a legal obligation will be performed, with forfeiture if it is not. In criminal proceedings, it most often refers to a cash deposit or equivalent required as a condition of bail to secure a defendant’s attendance at court and compliance with bail; failure to surrender may lead to forfeiture. The concept and procedures are set by bail legislation and court rules in each jurisdiction. Practice varies: in England & Wales and Northern Ireland, courts commonly take recognisances, with or without sureties, and may require a...

Passwords under the UK GDPR: ICO guidance on secure design, policies, storage, multifactor authentication, resets, defences and breach notification

Published by a LexisNexis Risk & Compliance expert

Practice notes

Passwords are a common and accessible way to safeguard personal data and the systems that process it. As they are cost-effective and straightforward to implement, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) endorses them as a method for protecting personal information. Where appropriate data protection measures are missing, organisations could face regulatory action. Numerous ICO breach investigations—where personal data was stolen, lost or accessed without proper authorisation—would have been less serious had the data been suitably protected. This Practice Note mirrors the ICO’s detailed Guidance on passwords to help organisations understand their options and responsibilities, together with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).

Introduction to passwords

A key challenge when handling personal data and other information is ensuring those who require access can obtain it, while stopping unauthorised individuals. You therefore need to authenticate and authorise the person attempting to gain access. This is typically achieved by verifying something an individual:

has, eg a physical device such as a smart card
is, eg biometric measures such as retina...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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