Portable Computer Devices And Personal Data Loss Go Hand In Hand - As Surely As Night Follows Day!

The launch of a new form of encryption involving the use of what

has been highlighted as an unbreakable system has ironically come

at a time when the Ministry of Defence begins its investigation

into the loss of an un-encrypted computer hard drive containing the

personal data of up to 1.7 million people who had made enquiries

about joining the armed forces.

The encryption of data is without doubt an essential component

in the protection of all our sensitive information and in light of

what seems an ever steady flow of headlines informing us of yet

another breach of security and data loss, it is perhaps prudent to

focus on how sensitive data is being managed and what can be done

to make improvements in our own business.

A number of key areas can be identified in relation to the

management of data and whilst they may seem obvious, clearly to

some, putting them into practice is a different matter:

Human error plays a large part in data loss and there is almost

an inevitability that if data is taken out of the office using some

form of portable device, eventually, the laptop will be left on a

train or the memory stick will slip out of a pocket onto the

backseat of a taxi or get left in the front seat pouch...