Everyone agrees that data and information security is a very important. Though of course there will always be different views on who is responsible for the security of a certain piece of information. There will then be further diverging views on how that information should be physically or digitally secured.

Most people you ask, would agree that the UK government is extremely bad at look after important information in its care. Especially, it seems if that data and information relates to me and you the general public. The latest fiascos with the loss of the names, addresses and bank account details related to the child benefit allowances, and the continuing losses of Ministry of Defence laptops certainly seems to confirm that thought.

So what about your own laptop? Are you carrying around a lot of your own personal data on your laptop? If so I have a number of questions for you. Do you have a regular backup of all your data? Do you encrypt your personal data? And are you very careful about leaving your laptop lying around unsecured even for a second? Few people can afford to lose their data and expensive laptop and as I travel and work a lot in many offices I have become quite fanatical about using my security cable at all times. Kensington produce a twin lock cable which I find really useful. Are you locking up your laptop, or are you looking for a position with the MOD?