A laptop computer belonging to Ireland’s Health Service Executive (HSE) has been stolen.  This is the second laptop reported missing in as many weeks.  Just like in the previously reported case, the HSE did not avail itself of laptop encryption software like AlertBoot to protect its contents.

The laptop computer, stolen from the HSE administration headquarters, holds thousands of records of HSE staff in Dublin, and had gone missing on September 17.  This was not reported, though, until 13 days after.  It has not been announced whether it took nearly two weeks for staff to notice the missing laptop, or whether this was just a delay in notifying affected personnel.  Either way, not a good thing.

The HSE has already started a review of their computer equipment and is planning on encrypting all of their computers as a result of previous data breaches.  I hope this is being extended to external hard drives and other digital media storage devices.  After all, such equipment are fodder for thieves as well, and are just as easy to steal as a laptop computer.

As this most recent case shows, acting fast is usually the best policy when it comes to data security.  After all, there is no guarantee that another theft that ends in a potential data breach won’t result soon after the first one.  I mean, it’s not as if all thieves, muggers, hackers, and other criminally-inclined people are synchronizing their crimes.  Since we don’t know when the next criminal will strike, it only makes sense to employ data protection measures as soon as possible – even before a data breach strikes (hey, now, there’s a concept!)

Related Articles:

http://www.scmagazineuk.com/Irish-HSE-hit-by-laptop-theft/article/118714/

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/stolen-hse-laptop-leaves-staff-open-to-identity-theft-1488894.html