(2-minute read)
As the year progresses and staff return to work on campus, the number of laptop thefts has increased.
At home, the number of people who physically have access to our laptop is considerably less than at the office. We’ve grown lax of precautions around our portable devices.
Some are not locking their office door when they step out for meetings, breaks or lunch. For others who work in open areas with several workstations, laptops are left on desks with no physical protection. More often than not, laptop thefts happen when people don’t properly secure their laptops before leaving at the end of the day or for the weekend. Mobile devices are often nearby without sufficient safeguards too. Classrooms can be vulnerable areas just as much.
Having people around you is not enough.
When we talk about IT security, there isn’t just the data aspect to consider, but the physical aspect. Laptops and mobile devices are so easy to pick up and put into a backpack without anyone noticing.
Given that laptops have a higher incidence of theft because of their portability, follow these steps to prevent the loss of your device and data.
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Don’t leave your mobile devices and laptop unattended. Ever. Unless they are appropriately secured.
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Physically secure the devices. Bring them with you or failing that, lock them in a drawer or use a cable lock for laptops.
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Ensure you have Mobile Application Management (MAM) on your laptops, tablets and cell phones. In case your equipment is lost or stolen, MAM could help locate your equipment, or delete remotely the sensitive data it contains.
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Avoid storing sensitive or confidential information on your laptop or mobile devices. If you must, ensure with your IT representative that your laptop or mobile devices is appropriately configured and encrypted.
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Your laptop and all mobile devices should have a robust password.
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Don't leave your laptop or mobile devices alone without the supervision of somebody you trust .
If despite these steps you become a victim of theft, report it to Protection Services.
Knowing about IT security is just smart. Read more.