Security threats Toolkit
Story: Nationwide fined £1m over laptop theft
Gary Clark, VP EMEA, SafeNet
Fining Nationwide for losing a laptop containing customer details highlights an ongoing security problem faced by organisations today, particularly as the trend in mobile and remote working increases. Our own survey of 1,200 IT managers and security professionals last year shows that only 44 per cent of the data on laptops is encrypted. The research also showed that only 12 per cent of the data on handheld devices, such as BlackBerries is encrypted.
Organisations must take steps to protect the growing amount of sensitive data, which is floating around outside the corporate network in executives' pockets and bags. Encrypting the data and using a smart card or a USB token to 'unlock' the laptop and subsequent information, which can be held separately from the machine, will reduce the risk of data falling into the wrong hands. Random thefts and losses of laptops and other physical assets inevitably occur, however, if unauthorised access to the data on these items is prevented via the use of encryption, organisations and their customers can rest easy.
Full Talkback thread
