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Government laptop theft record worsens.
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SafeBoot
: 21 February, 2008 (Technical Article) |
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Safeboot comments on the need for data encryption in light of the recent revelation of 200 more laptop losses experienced by the government. |
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The Government has revealed that 200 more laptops have been stolen from various government departments.
Kim Camman, product development manager at mobile device encryption specialist SafeBoot, a McAfee company comments:
'This is a huge embarrassment for the Government, who has faced enormous data security scrutiny over the past months, following the HMRC, DVLA and now Ministry of Justice debacles.
'Lost laptops are an inevitable part of life, so in this context 200 laptops is not a shocking figure. What is shocking is that nobody knows if all these laptops were protected, leaving the door wide open for sensitive information to get into the wrong hands.
“Implementing relatively straight-forward security policies, for example mandatory data encryption, will go a long way in ensuring all important and sensitive data residing on these mobile devices is protected from unauthorised eyes. Not protecting data with these measures is tantamount to leaving your car unlocked during your weekly shop.
'Data threats and policy must also be communicated properly to all government employees. A basic understanding of the threat will mitigate the risks. Data security should be part of the culture of government.
'The Government needs to get its house in order and ensure this is the last we hear of such incidents.'
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