Every day sees another headline that illustrates how data protection has been ignored resulting in vital data that has been exposed or lost. Yet it is common knowledge that enterprises have a vested interest, and a legal obligation to effectively protect data. Companies must understand, and account, for any mishaps and by merely adopting a security policy alone will only provide a false sense of data protection and potentially lead to the cost, embarrassment and humiliation of notifying customers, shareholders and competitors when data does go missing.

During these dark days, companies will need to look at ways to reduce overheads, be smart with their diminishing budgets and seek solutions that provide value for money, says Michael Callahan, CREDANT Technologies.

Every company today relies heavily on technology to complete even the most basic of day to day activities. Yet this reliance comes at a price. The news is full of organisations having to put their hands up to a breach of sensitive data from one source or another – be it a deliberate attack or a victim of circumstance with a mislaid laptop. Combine this with the ICO’s determination to name and shame any who do not adhere to the Data Protection Act and enforce its eight principles and its simple to see the financial implications of taking an ostrich’s approach.

Never a day goes by when we don’t hear about another security blunder with highly confidential information being lost not only by Government departments but also by other large corporations including the DVA, DVLA, HMRC, the Leeds Building Society, Monster. com, Ikea and TK Maxx.

According to a recent survey, conducted in the UK amongst lawyers from 100 law firms taken from a cross section comprising small firms to multi-national practices, 24% had misplaced at least one mobile device containing confidential documents. These losses leave the data saved to the device vulnerable to exposure with case-notes, contracts and client details typically at risk. Worryingly 37% believed that if they did lose their mobile device it would be insecure as a hacker, or identity thief, is cleverer than the average lawyer and could access the data it contains.

Some Considerations When Using Software To Secure Hospital Data On Laptops, Smartphones And USB Thumbdrives.

CREDANT Technologies delivers data security for 3,000 laptops in a major government department.

Arguably an organisations most vital asset is its databases, often containing financial information, customer and employee data and intellectual property. There have been many articles written that examine the risks posed of data being exposed and the potential damage caused. In addition, external threats have long been recognised with billions of pounds spent strengthening defences to mitigate against them yet there is little acknowledgment of the very real threat from within. The statement ‘don’t leave your valuables on show’ is a simple principle so why is it often ignored?