DataFort
Provides Relief from Pain of Data Theft |
| There’s
No Cure, But Companies Can Limit Exposure To Data Disappearance |
| Release
date: March 2004 |
| DataFort,
the leading provider of off-site data backup, is advising
its channel partners and clients to bolster their data
usage policies following a report exposing a high degree
of data theft by workers across UK businesses. |
| The
survey, commissioned by data forensics firm Ibas, reveals
shocking levels of digital kleptomania across Britain’s
desktops and servers, a revelation that comes as no
surprise to DataFort Founder & CEO Gavin Smith. |
| “Many
employees have little regard for company policies on
data usage,” says Smith. “A mailing list
that may have cost thousands of pounds to acquire will
often be copied and sent to a private e-mail account
without a care for the moral and legal aspects of that
action. Companies must accept data theft will happen
and look at ways to limit damage and deter future crimes.” |
| The
Ibas report lists e-mail and CD burners as the primary
‘getaway vehicles’ for office information
and Smith recommends companies implement an automatic,
offsite archiving solution to move data off the desktop
onto secure servers. This approach means employees have
‘immediate’ access to only the most recent
data (EG the last month’s worth of e-mail) but
can quickly and easily access archived information. |
| “Crucially,
DataFort provides an audit trail,” explains Smith.
“It’s virtually impossible to track what
employees do with a file, but companies can at least
prove that a certain member of staff actually requested
access to data. This information could prove vital in
legal situations or when dealing with grievance complaints.
More importantly, if employees know there is a chance
that they can be traced accessing files, they may be
less inclined to steal them in the first place.” |
| Smith
also cites a well enforced data usage policy as another
way of deterring information theft. Most employment
contracts state that all work created becomes company
property. While taking home the odd letter or memo is
unlikely to have serious repercussions for a business,
‘stealing’ an entire customer database that
has taken many years to build up could spell disaster. |
| Concludes
Smith: “Few companies operate strict data ownership
policies, and a relaxed, trusting office environment
is preferable to a climate of suspicion and mistrust.
However, wherever there’s an Internet browser
and CD burner there’s a threat, and companies,
especially SMEs, can’t afford to ignore the danger.” |
| |
 ABOUT
DATAFORT
DataFort provides
dependable secure off-site computer information storage with
a focus on functionality and convenience for the end user. The
company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Guildford,
UK and New York, USA. It’s software and services are used
by thousands of businesses worldwide - ranging from small SMEs
and schools through to quoted companies and local government.
Every hour of every day someone, somewhere backs up with DataFort. |
CONTACTS
Marcie Terman
T: +44 (0) 1483 872 052
E:  |
