With the rise of remote work, many companies have issued laptops to their employees for work-related tasks. However, with increased mobility comes an increased risk of laptop theft, and the consequences of laptop theft can be severe, particularly in terms of data breaches and potential loss of sensitive company information.

If you don’t believe us, just ask the chief security officer at Boeing, where a laptop containing personal information on 382,000 employees was stolen. The information included employees’ salary information, along with their birth dates, Social Security numbers, home addresses, and telephone numbers. In short, laptops are a data breach waiting to happen.

Still need more convincing that laptop theft is a cause for worry? Then consider this report from DriveStrike, which included the following data points:

  • A laptop is stolen every 53 seconds.
  • One missing laptop costs an average of $49,246.
  • 43% of laptops are lost or stolen outside of work, with another 33% lost or stolen in transit.

How to Mitigate the Risk

The theft of laptops, especially those that contain sensitive company information, can be damaging to businesses. While remote workers may take necessary precautions to secure their devices, laptop theft can occur while working in public places or in transit. In fact, a recent Reddit post described an unfortunate situation of a remote worker experiencing the theft of their work laptop while visiting family. This emphasizes the importance of implementing security measures that can protect company data in the event of theft or loss.

One way to mitigate the risk of laptop theft is to limit the use of company-issued laptops for professional purposes only. This might be a challenge, as the line between professional and personal use of laptops can sometimes be blurred. However, remote workers must be aware of security policies and the consequences of neglecting them.

It is also important to implement strong password policies across all business technologies. Implementing password protection is considered a simple, but critical practice to ensure the information and data security of company-owned laptops. This can prevent unauthorized access to devices, should they fall into the wrong hands after being lost or stolen.

Another way to protect company data is through the encryption of sensitive files and communication channels. Encryption is an effective security measure to scramble data encoded in such a way that only authorized users with encryption keys can access it. Encrypting data limits the chance of theft leading to sensitive data breaches.

Physical Protection is Important, Too

Lastly, companies should establish best practices for secure transportation and storage of laptops. These practices could include providing laptop bags or casings to employees, computer tether locks to secure their laptops in public places, and advising them to avoid leaving laptops in vehicles. These guidelines should also be communicated clearly, not only during initial onboarding but also through consistent reminders.

Laptop theft is an issue for both companies and their remote workers. Armed with the knowledge of potential security risks, companies can take proactive measures to protect their employees’ devices and reduce their vulnerability to laptop theft. Implementing company guidelines and security policies around password protection, encryption, secure transportation, and the use of company-issued laptops can help protect sensitive information and prevent data breaches. Ultimately, companies can still allow their remote workers to work outside the office but taking a few extra precautions can help ensure the safety of their information.