Regardless of the numerous high profile data losses, UK organisations are still unable to protect data devices like USB storage devices and laptops. The most recent cases of data loss incidents involve the loss of a USB storage device which contained vehicle registration and other relevant information by the Lothian and Borders Police.
The USB storage device which was last seen by the Road Policing Department at the police headquarters is assumed to have gone missing between last December and January. However a police spokesman said that the lost information will not compromise those involved in police investigations.
A CEO from a leading security firm said that any information that is stored on a regular USB storage device will put that data at risk of unauthorised access. As the physical size of USB storage devices decrease, the chances of misplacing them increase, and that is why they do not ensure confidentiality. According to a survey, approximately 9000 USB storage devices are lost at dry cleaners alone.
Laptops do not have any type of encryption for their data either. This makes them a high risk item to keep data stored on. For this reason it is important that companies and organisations that handle important information require online backup to protect their data sufficiently. This online backup not only creates a copy of your information but also encrypts it and so makes it secure from unauthorised use.
