UNITED ARAB EMIRATES DELIVERING DATA SECURITY http://www.itp.net/features/details.php?id=4384&category=

When it comes to security, many IT managers must wonder where to begin: barely a week goes by, it seems, without a new threat emerging. A recent threat IT managers were warned to beware of was the taxicab.

Well, more accurately, a recent survey from Swedish mobile security firm Pointsec found that over 60,000 mobile phones, nearly 6,000 pocket PCs and just under 5,000 laptops were left behind in London taxicabs last year, meaning the data on them was vulnerable.

Since another report, this one from security firm Symantec, suggested that the average laptop can hold company data valued at up to US$1million (with some holding much more — up to US$8.8million, the Symantec report suggests), that carelessness can amount to a big headache for IT administrators.

“The biggest threat to companies, without question, is the risk of loss or theft of mobile devices and consequently vital information getting into the hands of the wrong people,” says Peter Larsson, CEO of Pointsec. “And if you ask most CIO’s that is currently their biggest concern,” he adds.

“And if you ask most CIO’s that is currently their biggest concern,” he adds.

Pointsec takes a hard-line approach to what companies should do to protect themselves against the threat of confidential and invaluable data being lost or stolen — be it in the back of a taxi, in a restaurant, at an airport, or indeed anywhere else.

Educating errant employees in the art of keeping a firm grip on their mobile devices is not enough, the firm believes.

Attempting to enforce rigorous company policies concerning the handling of mobile devices outside the office environment is not enough to protect confidential data.

Ultimately, some such devices are always going to be lost: enterprises lose on average 1-2% of their mobile devices every year, according to Pointsec’s research.

“Just educating employees is not enough,” says Larsson. So, you have to accept that some devices will be lost, or stolen, and plan on that basis.

Therefore, according to Point- sec, organisations should limit the damage caused by loss or theft of mobile devices by ensuring that all data held on them is encrypted.

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