Memory sticks pose security threat

COMPANIES are in danger of losing valuable corporate information
because their employees don't back up properly.

According to a Dynamic Markets and Tower Software report more
than half of the respondents questioned stored work-related emails,
files and documents on portable devices rather than on a secure
shared computer network.

A fifth admitted to using memory sticks, while 14% said they
stored corporate material on laptop hard drives, 9% on their own
non-work portable devices, and 7% on PDAs and smart phones.

More worrying is that 1% of respondents can't remember where
they stored the files.

Paul Brenchley, vice president for Tower Software, said:

“Overall, employees at middle manager level seem to be
worse at storing computer files in such places (62%) compared to
administration staff (43%).

“Despite the meteoric rise in mobile working and the
popularity of mobile devices, I'm surprised that these figures
are so high.”

He added: “It seems that warnings about corporate security,
compliance and information control aren't registering. The use
of memory sticks for example, will leave many firms in breach of
their security contracts that forbid them in corporate buildings –
or any location with a corporate IP address.”

Headlines on the loss of corporate data have been steady over
the past few years. In October, the Inland Revenue admitted that a
laptop had been stolen from one its employers – although it was
confident that encryption software would keep any hackers out.

Last year, security concerns over outsourcing centres in India
led to many buildings banning any mobile device including MP3s and
digital cameras.

Mr Brenchley said that as well as putting in place security
protocols companies should consider their enterprise information
management needs such as the use of secure shared networks.