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Over half of UK business managers leave laptop with a stranger when travelling

Ponemon report shows that business managers are putting company data at risk by ignoring common sense when it comes to security

April 27, 2010

Newbury, UK, April 27, 2010 – 59 per cent of UK business managers admit to leaving their laptop with a stranger when travelling, according to a report by Absolute® Software Corporation, the leading provider of firmware-based, patented, computer theft recovery, data protection and secure computer lifecycle management solutions, and the Ponemon Institute.

The annual ‘Human Factor in Laptop Encryption’ study, which tracks the perception of the effectiveness of encryption solutions and actions taken by IT and business managers to secure their laptops, shows that business managers are continuing to put company data at risk by leaving laptops under the watchful eye of other travellers.

Another key finding of the report shows that 35 per cent of UK business managers record their encryption password on a Post-it Note to jog their memory or share the details with other individuals.

The ‘Human Factor in Laptop Encryption’ study surveyed 368 IT practitioners, including individuals in IT security, and 355 business managers located in non-IT disciplines. Absolute Software is exhibiting on stand H86 at InfoSec 2010 on 27-29 April. Copies of the study will be available at the stand.

Executive quote

“Whether it’s a case of leaving a laptop with a fellow train passenger while at the buffet car, or leaving a laptop unattended in a hotel restaurant, business managers are ignoring basic common sense, which is putting potentially sensitive information at risk,” said Dave Everitt, general manager (EMEA) at Absolute Software.

“The study shows that, despite their best efforts, an IT department’s security measures are being consistently thwarted by careless user behaviour,” continued Everitt. “Businesses need to assess the degree to which their own employees may be contributing to data breaches. They can’t get rid of human error altogether, so they need to add extra layers of security to allow for it. Encryption alone is not enough.”

About the company

About the Ponemon Institute
The Ponemon Institute© is dedicated to advancing responsible information and privacy management practices in business and government. To achieve this objective, the Institute conducts independent research, educates leaders from the private and public sectors and verifies the privacy and data protection practices of organizations in a variety of industries.

About Absolute Software
Absolute Software Corporation (TSX: ABT) is the leader in tracking, managing and protecting computers and mobile devices. The Company's Computrace, Absolute Manage and LoJack® for Laptops solutions provide theft recovery, data protection and computer lifecycle management capabilities to organizations and consumers. The Company's software agent is embedded in the firmware of computers by global leaders, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu, General Dynamics Itronix, HP, Lenovo, Motion, Panasonic and Toshiba, and the Company has reselling partnerships with these OEMs and others, including Apple. For more information about Absolute Software, visit www.absolute.com > and http://blog.absolute.com > .

Contact details

For more information, please contact:
Absolute Software Public Relations:
Lisa Gillingham / Ellen Spenceley (absolutesoftwareuk@lewispr.com )

Leslie Campisi, Affect Strategies
leslie@affectstrategies.com > or 212.398.9680 x144

Absolute Software Investor Relations:
Dave Mason, CFA, The Equicom Group
dmason@equicomgroup.com > or 416.815.0700 x237

Ponemon Institute Public Relations:
Mike Spinney
Ponemon Institute
978.597.0342
mspinney@ponemon.org

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Over half of UK business managers leave laptop with a stranger when travelling

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About the company

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