Latest survey reveals over one-in-five has lost a portable storage device containing confidential data despite new legislation and knowing better
More than one in five people have lost a portable storage device containing personal or company data, according to a recent survey of security savvy professionals conducted at this year’s Infosecurity Europe event in London. The findings come less than two months after the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) announced it would implement fines of up to £500,000 for companies that incurred serious breaches of the Data Protection Act.
The survey, which was conducted by iStorage, a leading specialist of portable data storage devices and digital encryption, also revealed that while 97% of people regularly carry data on some form of portable device, under half encrypt it. This is despite the fact that 98% of those surveyed stated that they believed data loss to be a serious and/or growing concern and 96% felt an encrypted hard drive to be preferable to an unencrypted one.
Key findings:
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23% of security professionals have lost a portable storage device containing company or personal information
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98% of those surveyed believe data loss to be a serious and/or growing concern
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46% encrypt their data yet 96% would prefer an encrypted hard drive
iStorage Managing Director John Michael said, “Our survey suggests a considerable disconnect between what security professionals believe and how they act. The majority of respondents recognised data loss to be a serious and growing concern and that protecting that data would be preferable to not protecting it. Yet we find that many fail to adequately encrypt and over a fifth of those surveyed have lost a portable device with personal and business information.”
After several high profile blunders, including the recent revelation that a USB stick of patient medical records from a Scottish hospital was left in a supermarket car park, diskGenie offers an ideal solution to safely storing and transporting sensitive data. The device guarantees absolute file privacy as information can only ever be retrieved by the PIN code holder. It requires no software installation and has an integrated USB 2.0 cable for quick and easy access.
For more information please visit www.istorage-uk.com
iStorage provides high performance and ultra secure portable data storage and security products to users who need to protect their data held on PCs, Macs and portable devices. The founders of iStorage are pioneers in their field and hold several patents, both granted and pending, on a range of related data storage and security products.
With a strong belief in careful product selection and unrivalled customer service, iStorage continues to deliver market leading innovations in portable data storage and digital encryption technology.
Source: Media Safari
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