When you travel on business, the company goes with you.

It is easy to forget that while we are travelling we are taking company property with us.

The question to ask yourself is, 'do our field personnel remember this?'  There are a few precautions that will safeguard your assets and your company data.

Protect your notebooks against damage and theft with specialized warranties; and your sensitive data with encryption software.

Ask yourself, 'what is the cost of loss?'

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Better late than . . . 

I am happy to say that I have recently gotten a few calls from our readers curious as to the lateness of this month's issue.  If nothing else it lets me know that we are being read and that many are finding it rewarding.  Thanks.

This month's entire issue is devoted to mobile computing concerns.  With so many of our clients conducting business while travelling, or having individuals that do, we are seeing more mobile-related issues.  In this month's Newsletter we highlight some preparations to avert these.

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Many of us lock our file cabinets in our locked offices, and those within locked buildings; but we leave our information on laptops secured only by our alertness to those around us.  Last year, 258 million personal records were compromised largely due to laptop related losses.

The ability to take work with us, although liberating, adds a need for caution previously unimaginable.  Our laptops go everywhere with us, into crowds and countless places where frankly company records, client data, and other sensitive information is a grab away from exposure. 

Each of us has read of a company that has had to alert its clients of the breach of data; the impact to customer confidence is immeasurable.  Data encryption is an inexpensive and essential barrier to safeguard your data, ensure your reputation, and add dramatic value to your organization. 

The security of information is marketable.  Do it for your peace-of-mind, do it for your clients, and do it for your bottom line.

Work Takes Us; and We Take Work

Be Kind to Your Mobile Computing Device

by: Dave Eltringham

As the need for more computer users to become mobile increases and mobile computing equipment becomes more affordable, over the last few years we have seen a tremendous growth in the number of mobile devices that we support. Unfortunately, that support includes replacing a lot of broken hardware. Notebook monitor hinges, keyboards, and hard drives are at the top of the list.

It seems we are constantly replacing and upgrading Blackberry devices. Some are replaced when a newer, more feature-filled replacement is available; others seem to have been run over “accidentally” by the family automobile.  Most of these devices are quite rugged and take the daily punishment in stride, but a little thoughtfulness can extend the life of your mobile device.