Opinion

posted on 02 July 2008 08:33

Many tele-workers have poor data security practices; so says a UK-based provider of hosted secure backup and data access.

DVS Soft Distribution reckons that it is not just government departments that lack care over classified information. It says many organisations fail to provide adequate secure measures to employees for the safe transferral of confidential information. This means employees may typically transfer needed files to work on at home using USB sticks, putting data onto a laptop or emailing the information to themselves.

Andy Hansen, DVS Soft's sales director, said: "We're not just talking about customer data. Although taking a customer database home over the weekend to work on is not unheard of, the types of data we typically see leaving an organisation unprotected are sales forecasts, competitive
information and details of new products. All of which, if it fell into the wrong hands, could prove very valuable."

DVS Soft says that despite the fact that most people are now aware of the need to protect personal documentation, the majority of employees would not think twice about printing off business critical data or placing the file unencrypted onto a portable medium to take home. In addition, they are unlikely to report it to management should it become lost for fear of reprisals.

Hansen said: "Organisations need to educate staff to value business information, in the same way as they do their own personal data. "Companies need to review their policies and procedures to ensure they cover all data created and to provide a secure means of making specific data files available from any location to assist working out of the office, without compromising security."

DVS Soft Distribution markets DVS Soft, a hosted back-up service that provides SOHO and businesses users with a simple and flexible way to back-up critical data. In addition to hassle free back-up, DVS Soft provides a number of unique features including real-time back-up on specified files and Magic Folders that allows users to access important information, securely via the internet. DVS Soft is used widely by the UK insurance and financial services industry. DVS Soft Distribution is based in Oxfordshire, UK. For more information visit www.dvssoft.co.uk.

^{[Formatted by B&F staff and based on a release from DVS Soft Distribution.]}