Laptop theft: How to protect your business data
Posted 22 November 2006 at 9:02AM by Martin Faux in Hints and tips, IT systems and support
The theft of a laptop belonging to a Nationwide employee highlights the impact a single loss can have on a business, even one the size of the Nationwide. According to Computer Weekly, in a survey carried out in August, 4 out of 5 companies had lost a laptop containing sensitive data in the past 12 months.
For a business to protect itself, it not only needs to backup any sensitive data so it can quickly restore the information should it need to, but also needs to ensure that the data stored on the physical device is fully encrypted.
There is a vast array of information on encryption, but to explain it briefly, encryption works by encoding the data on the P.C or laptop using a keyword. Only certain recipient computers that have the key installed can then decipher the data. This provides control over who has access to the data by limiting who has the encryption key.
For a simple explanation of how encryption works, take a look at a site called "Howstuffworks" .
Armed with this knowledge all you need to do is to find the right encryption technology for your business.
Tags: bt, btbroadbandoffice, datasure, encryption
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