SwampFox

Business Laptops: Disaster waiting to happen?

Submitted by: Amanda Steele on Mar 23, 2010 at 7:58 pm Tagged with: Computer Security, data loss protection, data replication, Data Security, Disaster Recovery, Email Security, information security, IT asset management, IT risk management, IT risk management Columbia SC, IT services Columbia SC, laptop security, laptop security services, managed services provider Source: Business Vitals

It happens all the time. An employee leaves a company laptop in the car and POOF! the laptop and all of the confidential, business-critical data it contains is gone. An executive waiting to catch a flight in a busy airport leaves her briefcase unattended while paying for coffee and POOF! the briefcase and the laptop inside are gone. A downsized salesperson leaves behind his laptop, but not before downloading the company’s product information, financials, and customer database on a jump drive and POOF! he and the company’s security are gone.

In today’s tech-dependent world, laptops are both a powerful business enabler and distressing point of failure. Employees, no matter how competent and seemingly trustworthy, often mistakenly or intentionally put businesses at risk by losing, damaging, or stealing company laptops and the data they contain. Your company laptops don’t have to be a disaster waiting to happen. IT risk management expert, Business Vitals, can secure your company laptops from loss or theft.

Acceptable Use Policy
Employees, from executives to middle managers and even the IT staff, need to understand that laptops are a business asset and not a personal one. As such, laptops must be protected and respected and should not be left unattended nor used for non-business purposes. Non-business use of this asset can introduce real legal liabilities and compliance risks into the organization. Business Vitals can assist you with developing an acceptable use policy tailored for your organization that clearly describes how laptops and other IT assets can and cannot be used. In addition, Business Vitals IT Asset Management and Laptop Security Services can help bridge the gap between policy and execution of the policy. By removing the responsibility of security from the user and putting it back into the hands of those ultimately responsible for keeping the organization’s information secure, you can rest assured that regulated data and valuable corporate assets will not be compromised.

Laptop Data Protection
Business Vitals also offers a comprehensive, cost effective laptop data protection service that secures your organization in the event laptops are lost or stolen. There are multi layers of protection. First, data on company laptops is intelligently encrypted. The encryption also stops individuals from downloading usable content to a zip or jump drive. Second, Business Vitals has the ability to automatically eliminate data from lost or stolen laptops regardless of where the laptop is located. Third, the laptop and its data are protected on and off the Internet and this service is completely transparent to the user. Once installed, there is no downtime nor performance impact. All data is overwritten according to best practice guidelines.

Data Replication
Business Vitals also offers a number of data replication solutions to ensure all company data is replicated, secured, and available when you need it.

Don’t allow your business laptops to be disasters waiting to happen. If you would like to discuss the information contained in this article or have questions about how Business Vitals can secure your business IT, contact Jeff Brewer or Phil Canders at 803.753.5200 or toll free at 888.287.8483.