A Breach That Underscores AI’s Data Handling Risks
McDonald’s is under scrutiny after a global data breach exposed the personal details of over 60 million job applicants, including those in Australia. The breach has been linked to vulnerabilities in the company’s AI-driven McHire platform and its integrated chatbot, Olivia. Alarmingly, access to the data was reportedly achieved using one of the most common passwords: 123456.
The fast-food giant attributed the breach to a third-party service provider, but the incident has amplified industry-wide concerns about how organizations are storing and securing vast amounts of data generated by artificial intelligence platforms.
Atturra CEO Warns: Most Companies Don’t Know Where Their Data Lives
Stephen Kowal, CEO of Australian IT consultancy Atturra (ASX:ATA), says the breach highlights a much larger and systemic issue—poor visibility and control over enterprise data.
“I guarantee that if you go to any company, they won’t know where their data is stored,” said Kowal.
According to Kowal, as businesses rapidly deploy AI solutions, many are building their digital infrastructure on insecure or disorganized data environments.
“It’s like building a mansion on sand,” he said, warning that without strong data curation, AI tools become a liability.
Data Breaches Are Inevitable—But Impact Can Be Mitigated
Atturra, which provides data integration and consultancy services to local governments, utilities, defense, and manufacturers, sees itself as the “picks and shovels” supplier of the AI revolution. Kowal notes that breaches are increasingly unavoidable as data volumes grow. However, the severity of breaches hinges on the fundamentals.
“If our data is secure and encrypted and backed up, the breach is more like a flat tire on a car, rather than a blimp that explodes,” he said.
He added that organizations often resist in-depth audits of their data ecosystems because of disclosure obligations tied to privacy regulations.
“A lot of them are between a rock and a hard place. If you go and find everything, there are rules requiring you to disclose stuff.”
Atturra’s Growth Strategy Rooted in Data Expertise
Formed in 2015 through a string of acquisitions, Atturra has positioned itself as a data-first consultancy. With a current market capitalization of $300 million, the firm recently reported a 27% increase in half-year revenue to $141 million and a 55% rise in net profit to $4.2 million.
Its portfolio includes 70 local manufacturing clients such as RM Williams and Bundaberg, alongside public sector entities. The company is actively buying back shares and maintains $98 million in cash reserves.
“We were all things to all people, so we focused on selected areas—and data integration was one of those,” Kowal explained.
AI Boom Spurs Demand for Secure Data Infrastructure
With AI demand soaring, investors are increasingly betting on infrastructure providers like data center giant NextDC (ASX:NXT) and connectivity platform Megaport (ASX:MP1). Meanwhile, emerging players like Vection Technologies (ASX:VR1) are carving out space in augmented reality and AI-powered analytics.
Vection recently secured a $4.4 million deal with a top 10 global defense contractor and has a further $21 million in potential work lined up over five years. It also signed a $4 million agreement with Italian telco Omniacom Group.
“Heightened geopolitical tensions are accelerating demand for AI-powered monitoring solutions that protect national perimeters through rapid big-data analysis,” Vection said.
For enterprise leaders, the McDonald’s breach is a wake-up call. As AI adoption accelerates, secure data governance must be prioritized—not as an afterthought, but as the foundation of every digital initiative. Without it, even the most advanced AI deployments remain vulnerable to the simplest of threats.
