Our Take on “Personal data at risk in lost IRS laptops”
Encrypting data on laptops is not a new technology; it has been available for many years now. The first version of SafeBoot, our product that encrypts the entire contents of a PC or laptop, was first released with DOS 4 more than 15 years ago. The US government has strict policies and regulations that cover the protection on sensitive data, such as the OMB "Protection of Sensitive Agency Information" memo published in June 2006. The USA also has a central organization (The National Institute of Standards and Technology) that has a dedicated IT security arm — they publish good practice guides and maintain formal certification schemes that are used worldwide to ensure the quality of policy and products. For the IRS to not apply these controls, when both product, advice, and technology is so readily available, shows that security, more than a technology or idealism, is absolutely a mindset.
Without appropriate education to the end user of the importance of securing data, and without encouraging budget holders to see security as a benefit to their organization rather than a cost, we will keep finding that our personal data is not as protected as we would like.
Our Take is contributed by SafeBoot Chief Technology Officer, Simon Hunt
Media Contact for SafeBoot International:
| Non-EMEA / APAC | EMEA/APAC |
| Eric Sommerton | Tom de Jongh |
| eric.sommerton@safeboot.com | tom.dejongh@safeboot.com |
| +1.239.430.0386 | +31(0)30 634 88 00 |
