State: Background-check data missing from vault

LITTLE ROCK (AP) A computer storage tape with data from criminal background checks dating back to the mid-1990s is missing from an information-protection company's vault, though officials say there is no indication of a deliberate breach.

The tape contains information from criminal background checks run on 807,000 people over at least 12 years and was last seen in mid-December, the Arkansas Department of Information Systems said Friday. The background-check information includes names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and addresses.

The department discovered the tape was missing during a review and upgrade of their backup files at the Information Vaulting Services facility in Little Rock, according to Danny Palo, the chief operating officer of the data-storage company. After close to 25 years in the business, Palo said this was the first time he's had anything like this happen.

"I really, honestly, don't know what happened," Palo said. "Clearly there were some missteps between (Information Vaulting Services) and (the Department of Information Systems)."

Since all the data was backup serving as copies of the original data the Department of Information Systems holds in its own facilities there was no data lost, and a copy was quickly made to replace the tape, Palo said.

State police have investigated but didn't find any evidence of criminal activity, the Department of Information Systems said. Palo said the attempt would have been very difficult because two forms of electronic security need to be passed before reaching the files in a massive vault, which is set up like a library where only workers can access the tapes.

"This would be like a closed library, where you ask us for something and we go pick up the books while (you) wait in the lobby," Palo said.

Information Vaulting Services adopted new precautions after the incident, using a log-in, log-out system.

"We have the ability to scan every single tape going in and out of our facility," Palo said. "We now (have) computerized tracking of everything."

A news release from the Department of Information Systems said people who have undergone criminal background checks can check to see if their information was on the missing tape. They can call 888-682-0411 or visit http://notify.arkansas.gov. The call center will be staffed Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m.

Also, the department advises that anyone can obtain a free credit report visiting http://annualcreditreport.com and looking at their credit activity through one of the three major credit bureaus. Consumers can check for any unauthorized credit activity.