White Paper: Airport Insecurity — The Case of the Lost Laptops
Date
:
6/30/2008
Every day, business travelers are putting the sensitive and confidential data of their organizations at risk when they travel through airports. Sponsored by Dell, Ponemon Institute conducted this study, Airport Insecurity: The Case of Lost Laptops, to understand the current risks posed to sensitive and confidential data contained in the laptops of business travelers.
According to the Ponemon Cost of Data Breach Study, lost or stolen confidential information costs a company an average of $197 for every record. Obviously, even one missing laptop can become a serious problem for any organization. To avoid this, we recommend the following simple steps:
According to the Ponemon Cost of Data Breach Study, lost or stolen confidential information costs a company an average of $197 for every record. Obviously, even one missing laptop can become a serious problem for any organization. To avoid this, we recommend the following simple steps:
- Label your laptop. Provide your full contact information so that if the device is found, airport personnel will be able to reach you or your company quickly.
- Allow enough time to arrive at the airport before your plane departs. Rushing can result in mistakes that could otherwise be avoided.
- Carry less and think ahead. Have a mental strategy when removing laptops and other possessions prior to screening at a security checkpoint.
- Take appropriate security measures to protect your information. Consider the use of encryption technologies and always back up your system.
- Think twice about the information you carry on your laptop. Is it really necessary to have so much information accessible on your computer?
- Know whom to call. Airports need to do a better job coordinating the lost-and-found process, especially when it concerns the loss of a laptop computer or other data-bearing devices.
