Update: Westmark says breach was discovered in late August; SSNs exposed, credit monitoring offered

REAL DUBUQUE NEWS (RDN) DUBUQUE, Iowa - Westmark Enterprises has issued its first public account of the data breach reported earlier this year, saying it became aware of suspicious activity toward the end of August affecting certain internal computer systems and services. The Dubuque-based company, which provides back-office support services for affiliated businesses, says it worked to secure its computer system and restore service before launching an internal investigation. The investigation found an unauthorized party gained access to a limited segment of the company's network, where files were copied and potentially viewed, exposing names and Social Security numbers. Westmark is offering affected individuals 24 months of complimentary credit monitoring and identity restoration services through Experian IdentityWorks at no cost.