Over half of companies admit to losing laptops

57 per cent of firms have lost laptops in the past 12 months

Some 57 per cent of UK companies have reported the loss of one or more laptop computers containing sensitive information during the previous 12 months, according to a study by the Ponemon Institute.

In the UK, protection of employee and customer information are top priorities, while in the US, protection of intellectual property and confidential business information receives the highest rankings, accordung to the survey.

Dr Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder of the Ponemon Institute, said: 'In the UK, as in the US, companies still have a long way to go in effectively protecting confidential corporate information.'

'On the other hand, more than 90 per cent of UK companies report that protecting sensitive data, both at rest and in motion, is now a priority, which is good news for UK business and consumers,' he said.

Joseph Ansanelli, CEO, Vontu who sponsored the research said: 'Potential data loss creates huge risks to brand reputation, regulatory compliance and financial performance. It is important to have a written policy about what should be on a laptop, and to educate staff as to what that policy is.'

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