Every day, business travelers are putting the sensitive and confidential data of their organizations at risk when they travel through airports. Although companies are dependent upon on a mobile workforce, this mobility is putting companies at risk of having a data breach if a laptop containing sensitive information is lost or stolen.

Sponsored by Dell, Ponemon Institute conducted a study, Airport Insecurity: The Case of Lost Laptops, to understand the current risks posed to sensitive and confidential data contained in the laptops of business travelers. According to the study:

• Business travelers lose more than 12,000 laptops per week in U.S. airports.

• Only 33% of laptops lost and found in airports are reclaimed.

• Over 53% of business travelers say that their laptops contain confidential or sensitive information. However, 65% of these travelers admit they do not take steps to protect or secure the information contained on their laptop.

• According to U.S. airport representatives, the most common airport locations where laptops are lost include security checkpoints (40%) and departure gates (23%).

This study highlights the fact that every laptop in your agency should be secured and encrypted to make sure that personal customer information is protected in the event the laptop is lost or stolen.