Company Details
dentsu
19,142
1,701,378
541613
bit.ly
159
DEN_1102532
Completed


dentsu Company CyberSecurity Posture
bit.lyWe are dentsu. We team together to help brands predict and plan for disruptive future opportunities and create new paths to growth in the sustainable economy. We know people better than anyone else and we use those insights to connect brand, content, commerce and experience, underpinned by modern creativity. We are the network designed for what’s next.
Company Details
dentsu
19,142
1,701,378
541613
bit.ly
159
DEN_1102532
Completed
Between 650 and 699

dentsu Global Score (TPRM)XXXX

Description: Dentsu, a global advertising and media network, suffered a security breach within its subsidiary Merkle’s network, resulting in the theft of sensitive files. The compromised data included personal and financial details of current and former employees, as well as some clients and suppliers. Exposed information comprised names, bank/payroll details, salaries, National Insurance numbers, and personal contact details.The company detected unusual network activity, triggering an immediate response: systems were taken offline, incident response protocols were activated, and third-party cybersecurity firms alongside law enforcement were engaged. While Dentsu restored operations, the investigation remains ongoing. Affected individuals were notified and offered credit/dark-web monitoring services via Experian Identity Plus to mitigate risks like identity theft or financial fraud.The breach coincides with Dentsu’s strategic review, including potential divestments of its international creative and media divisions, raising concerns about operational stability. The incident underscores vulnerabilities in handling highly sensitive employee and client data, with potential long-term reputational and financial repercussions.
Description: Dentsu, a global advertising and marketing agency, suffered a significant data breach affecting its CX agency, Merkle. The incident involved unauthorized access to files containing sensitive personal and financial data of current and former employees, including bank/payroll details, salaries, National Insurance numbers, and contact information. The breach also extended to LNER (London North Eastern Railway) customer data, exposing contact details and journey histories, though no payment or password data was compromised. The breach triggered a complaint to the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), with affected ex-employees forming legal groups (one WhatsApp group exceeding 150 members) to pursue collective action. Dentsu acknowledged the leak exceeded legal reporting thresholds and offered affected individuals a year of Experian Identity Plus for monitoring. However, frustration persists over delayed notifications, unclear specifics of leaked data, and Dentsu’s retention of records beyond standard HMRC timelines (some ex-employees left over a decade ago). The ICO may impose fines (up to £8.7M or 2% of global turnover) if negligence is proven, separate from potential compensation claims.


No incidents recorded for dentsu in 2026.
No incidents recorded for dentsu in 2026.
No incidents recorded for dentsu in 2026.
dentsu cyber incidents detection timeline including parent company and subsidiaries

We are dentsu. We team together to help brands predict and plan for disruptive future opportunities and create new paths to growth in the sustainable economy. We know people better than anyone else and we use those insights to connect brand, content, commerce and experience, underpinned by modern creativity. We are the network designed for what’s next.


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At least one WhatsApp group now counts more than 150 ex‑employees discussing collective legal options, and a “Join the Claim” portal has...
Dentsu is the latest large organisation to face a major cyber attack, following Jaguar Land Rover, M&S and the Co-op.
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Explore insights on cybersecurity incidents, risk posture, and Rankiteo's assessments.
The official website of dentsu is https://bit.ly/3lDa6Ff.
According to Rankiteo, dentsu’s AI-generated cybersecurity score is 666, reflecting their Weak security posture.
According to Rankiteo, dentsu currently holds 0 security badges, indicating that no recognized compliance certifications are currently verified for the organization.
According to Rankiteo, dentsu has not been affected by any supply chain cyber incidents, and no incident IDs are currently listed for the organization.
According to Rankiteo, dentsu is not certified under SOC 2 Type 1.
According to Rankiteo, dentsu does not hold a SOC 2 Type 2 certification.
According to Rankiteo, dentsu is not listed as GDPR compliant.
According to Rankiteo, dentsu does not currently maintain PCI DSS compliance.
According to Rankiteo, dentsu is not compliant with HIPAA regulations.
According to Rankiteo,dentsu is not certified under ISO 27001, indicating the absence of a formally recognized information security management framework.
dentsu operates primarily in the Advertising Services industry.
dentsu employs approximately 19,142 people worldwide.
dentsu presently has no subsidiaries across any sectors.
dentsu’s official LinkedIn profile has approximately 1,701,378 followers.
dentsu is classified under the NAICS code 541613, which corresponds to Marketing Consulting Services.
No, dentsu does not have a profile on Crunchbase.
Yes, dentsu maintains an official LinkedIn profile, which is actively utilized for branding and talent engagement, which can be accessed here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dentsu.
As of January 24, 2026, Rankiteo reports that dentsu has experienced 2 cybersecurity incidents.
dentsu has an estimated 32,770 peer or competitor companies worldwide.
Incident Types: The types of cybersecurity incidents that have occurred include Breach.
Detection and Response: The company detects and responds to cybersecurity incidents through an third party assistance with cybersecurity firm (unnamed), third party assistance with experian identity plus (for monitoring services), and and containment measures with systems taken offline, containment measures with incident response protocols initiated, and recovery measures with systems brought back online, and communication strategy with internal email to employees, communication strategy with public statement, communication strategy with notification process for affected parties, and and third party assistance with cybersecurity firm (unnamed), and and remediation measures with offered experian identity plus (1-year subscription for credit/dark-web monitoring), and communication strategy with initial notification to affected individuals (27 oct 2023), communication strategy with encouraged monitoring of financial statements, communication strategy with no further updates provided, and enhanced monitoring with fraud monitoring recommended for affected individuals..
Title: Data Breach at Dentsu's Merkle Network Affecting Employees, Clients, and Suppliers
Description: Former and current staff at Dentsu and some clients had their information taken following a security incident within Merkle’s network. Files containing names, bank and payroll details, salary, National Insurance numbers, and personal contact details were exfiltrated. Dentsu has engaged third-party cybersecurity firms, notified law enforcement, and offered affected individuals credit and dark-web monitoring services via Experian Identity Plus. The investigation remains ongoing, but notifications have begun in compliance with applicable laws.
Type: data breach
Title: Dentsu Data Breach Affecting Former Employees and LNER Customers
Description: Dentsu reported a data breach where files containing personal and financial details of former employees (including bank/payroll details, salary, National Insurance numbers, and contact details) were exfiltrated from Merkle’s network. The breach also impacted LNER customer data, including contact details and journey information. The ICO is investigating, and affected individuals are considering legal action. Dentsu offered credit monitoring services and notified law enforcement.
Date Publicly Disclosed: 2023-10-27
Type: Data Breach
Common Attack Types: The most common types of attacks the company has faced is Breach.

Data Compromised: Names, Bank details, Payroll details, Salary information, National insurance numbers, Personal contact details
Systems Affected: portion of Merkle’s network
Downtime: temporary (some systems taken offline as precaution)
Operational Impact: minimal (fully operational after containment)
Brand Reputation Impact: potential (ongoing investigation amid speculation about Dentsu's future)
Identity Theft Risk: high (bank, payroll, and PII exposed)
Payment Information Risk: high (bank details compromised)

Data Compromised: Bank/payroll details, Salary information, National insurance numbers, Personal contact details, Lner customer contact details, Lner journey information
Systems Affected: Merkle’s (Dentsu’s CX agency) network
Customer Complaints: ['Collective legal action being considered by former employees', 'Frustration over lack of follow-up communication', 'Complaints about prolonged data retention (10+ years)']
Brand Reputation Impact: Potential reputational damage due to legal action and regulatory scrutinyNegative media coverage
Legal Liabilities: Potential ICO fines (up to £8.7M or 2% of global turnover)Group action claims by former employeesViolation of UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 (excessive data retention)
Identity Theft Risk: ['High (due to exposure of National Insurance numbers, bank details, and personal contact information)']
Payment Information Risk: ['Exposed for former employees (bank/payroll details)', 'Not affected for LNER customers']
Commonly Compromised Data Types: The types of data most commonly compromised in incidents are Personal Identifiable Information (Pii), Financial Data, Employment Records, , Personal Identifiable Information (Pii), Financial Data, Employment Records, Customer Contact Details, Journey Information and .

Entity Name: Dentsu (via Merkle network)
Entity Type: advertising and marketing agency
Industry: media and communications
Customers Affected: some clients, suppliers, and current/former employees

Entity Name: Dentsu (including Merkle CX agency)
Entity Type: Advertising/Media Conglomerate
Industry: Marketing & Advertising
Location: United KingdomJapan (HQ)
Customers Affected: Current/former employees (150+ in one WhatsApp group), Clients, Suppliers

Entity Name: London North Eastern Railway (LNER)
Entity Type: Train Operator
Industry: Transportation
Location: United Kingdom
Customers Affected: Unknown (contact details and journey information exposed)

Incident Response Plan Activated: True
Third Party Assistance: Cybersecurity Firm (Unnamed), Experian Identity Plus (For Monitoring Services).
Containment Measures: systems taken offlineincident response protocols initiated
Recovery Measures: systems brought back online
Communication Strategy: internal email to employeespublic statementnotification process for affected parties

Incident Response Plan Activated: True
Third Party Assistance: Cybersecurity Firm (Unnamed).
Remediation Measures: Offered Experian Identity Plus (1-year subscription for credit/dark-web monitoring)
Communication Strategy: Initial notification to affected individuals (27 Oct 2023)Encouraged monitoring of financial statementsNo further updates provided
Enhanced Monitoring: Fraud monitoring recommended for affected individuals
Third-Party Assistance: The company involves third-party assistance in incident response through cybersecurity firm (unnamed), Experian Identity Plus (for monitoring services), , Cybersecurity firm (unnamed), .

Type of Data Compromised: Personal identifiable information (pii), Financial data, Employment records
Sensitivity of Data: high (includes bank details, National Insurance numbers, and salary information)
Personally Identifiable Information: namesNational Insurance numberspersonal contact details

Type of Data Compromised: Personal identifiable information (pii), Financial data, Employment records, Customer contact details, Journey information
Sensitivity of Data: High (includes National Insurance numbers, bank details, salaries)
Personally Identifiable Information: NamesNational Insurance numbersBank/payroll detailsSalariesPersonal contact details (email/phone/address)
Prevention of Data Exfiltration: The company takes the following measures to prevent data exfiltration: Offered Experian Identity Plus (1-year subscription for credit/dark-web monitoring), .
Handling of PII Incidents: The company handles incidents involving personally identifiable information (PII) through by systems taken offline, incident response protocols initiated and .

Data Exfiltration: True

Data Exfiltration: True
Data Recovery from Ransomware: The company recovers data encrypted by ransomware through systems brought back online, .

Regulatory Notifications: ongoing (notifications begun in accordance with applicable law)

Regulations Violated: UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018 (excessive data retention beyond 7 years),
Legal Actions: ICO investigation ongoing, Potential group action claims by former employees,
Regulatory Notifications: Reported to ICO (scale exceeded legal threshold)Law enforcement notified
Ensuring Regulatory Compliance: The company ensures compliance with regulatory requirements through ICO investigation ongoing, Potential group action claims by former employees, .

Recommendations: monitor financial statements, use credit/dark-web monitoring services (e.g., Experian Identity Plus)monitor financial statements, use credit/dark-web monitoring services (e.g., Experian Identity Plus)

Recommendations: Improve data retention policies to comply with UK GDPR (max 7 years for HMRC-related records), Enhance transparency in post-breach communication (e.g., clarify which specific data was exposed per individual), Proactively engage with affected parties to mitigate legal risks, Review third-party supplier security (LNER breach linked to Dentsu’s systems)Improve data retention policies to comply with UK GDPR (max 7 years for HMRC-related records), Enhance transparency in post-breach communication (e.g., clarify which specific data was exposed per individual), Proactively engage with affected parties to mitigate legal risks, Review third-party supplier security (LNER breach linked to Dentsu’s systems)Improve data retention policies to comply with UK GDPR (max 7 years for HMRC-related records), Enhance transparency in post-breach communication (e.g., clarify which specific data was exposed per individual), Proactively engage with affected parties to mitigate legal risks, Review third-party supplier security (LNER breach linked to Dentsu’s systems)Improve data retention policies to comply with UK GDPR (max 7 years for HMRC-related records), Enhance transparency in post-breach communication (e.g., clarify which specific data was exposed per individual), Proactively engage with affected parties to mitigate legal risks, Review third-party supplier security (LNER breach linked to Dentsu’s systems)

Source: Campaign (marketing industry publication)

Source: Campaign UK

Source: Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Statement

Source: Withers Law Firm (Jo Sanders, Data/Information Disputes Partner)
Additional Resources: Stakeholders can find additional resources on cybersecurity best practices at and Source: Campaign (marketing industry publication), and Source: Campaign UK, and Source: Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Statement, and Source: Withers Law Firm (Jo Sanders, Data/Information Disputes Partner).

Investigation Status: ongoing

Investigation Status: Ongoing (ICO inquiry and internal investigation with cybersecurity firm)
Communication of Investigation Status: The company communicates the status of incident investigations to stakeholders through Internal Email To Employees, Public Statement, Notification Process For Affected Parties, Initial Notification To Affected Individuals (27 Oct 2023), Encouraged Monitoring Of Financial Statements and No Further Updates Provided.

Stakeholder Advisories: Internal Email To Employees, Public Statement.
Customer Advisories: encouraged to monitor financial statementsoffered Experian Identity Plus subscription

Customer Advisories: Dentsu: Monitor financial statements; offered Experian Identity Plus.LNER: No bank/payment card/password data affected; investigation underway.
Advisories Provided: The company provides the following advisories to stakeholders and customers following an incident: were Internal Email To Employees, Public Statement, Encouraged To Monitor Financial Statements, Offered Experian Identity Plus Subscription, , Dentsu: Monitor Financial Statements; Offered Experian Identity Plus., Lner: No Bank/Payment Card/Password Data Affected; Investigation Underway. and .

High Value Targets: Employee Data, Client/Supplier Data,
Data Sold on Dark Web: Employee Data, Client/Supplier Data,

High Value Targets: Employee Pii/Financial Data, Client/Supplier Data,
Data Sold on Dark Web: Employee Pii/Financial Data, Client/Supplier Data,

Root Causes: Inadequate Data Retention Policies (Retained Data For 10+ Years Beyond Legal Limits), Potential Third-Party Security Vulnerabilities (Merkle’S Network),
Post-Incident Analysis Process: The company's process for conducting post-incident analysis is described as Cybersecurity Firm (Unnamed), Experian Identity Plus (For Monitoring Services), , Cybersecurity Firm (Unnamed), , Fraud Monitoring Recommended For Affected Individuals, .
Most Recent Incident Publicly Disclosed: The most recent incident publicly disclosed was on 2023-10-27.
Most Significant Data Compromised: The most significant data compromised in an incident were names, bank details, payroll details, salary information, National Insurance numbers, personal contact details, , Bank/payroll details, Salary information, National Insurance numbers, Personal contact details, LNER customer contact details, LNER journey information and .
Most Significant System Affected: The most significant system affected in an incident was portion of Merkle’s network and Merkle’s (Dentsu’s CX agency) network.
Third-Party Assistance in Most Recent Incident: The third-party assistance involved in the most recent incident was cybersecurity firm (unnamed), experian identity plus (for monitoring services), , cybersecurity firm (unnamed), .
Containment Measures in Most Recent Incident: The containment measures taken in the most recent incident was systems taken offlineincident response protocols initiated.
Most Sensitive Data Compromised: The most sensitive data compromised in a breach were LNER journey information, Bank/payroll details, National Insurance numbers, Personal contact details, Salary information, bank details, payroll details, personal contact details, LNER customer contact details, names and salary information.
Most Significant Legal Action: The most significant legal action taken for a regulatory violation was ICO investigation ongoing, Potential group action claims by former employees, .
Most Significant Recommendation Implemented: The most significant recommendation implemented to improve cybersecurity was Enhance transparency in post-breach communication (e.g., clarify which specific data was exposed per individual), monitor financial statements, Proactively engage with affected parties to mitigate legal risks, use credit/dark-web monitoring services (e.g., Experian Identity Plus), Review third-party supplier security (LNER breach linked to Dentsu’s systems) and Improve data retention policies to comply with UK GDPR (max 7 years for HMRC-related records).
Most Recent Source: The most recent source of information about an incident are Campaign (marketing industry publication), Campaign UK, Withers Law Firm (Jo Sanders, Data/Information Disputes Partner) and Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Statement.
Current Status of Most Recent Investigation: The current status of the most recent investigation is ongoing.
Most Recent Stakeholder Advisory: The most recent stakeholder advisory issued was internal email to employees, public statement, .
Most Recent Customer Advisory: The most recent customer advisory issued were an encouraged to monitor financial statementsoffered Experian Identity Plus subscription and Dentsu: Monitor financial statements; offered Experian Identity Plus.LNER: No bank/payment card/password data affected; investigation underway.
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