Under lock and key

Stephen Hoare takes a closer look at the sometimes overlooked issue of laptop security.

Today, business owners and mangers face a serious issue caused by the growing use of laptops by their employees. The issue is of course theft. Laptop theft, is a much bigger concern than just the cost of the replacement hardware. There's the responsibility to all company stakeholders for the loss of what could be highly valuable and confidential information. We have all heard the stories in the media of prominent government individuals with laptops, containing critical information, that have mysteriously gone missing. For organisations there is also the cost in time, of missed work and setting up the new laptop. The cost of losing just one laptop can easily add up to a considerable amount of cost and pain for the user and IT manager.
 
Nearly all businesses today use laptops. We love their flexibility and transportability. They're also easy to lose. It's a fact that 90 percent of UK businesses have experienced laptop theft. Most laptop theft is opportunistic. Someone leaves their laptop unguarded on a desk, meeting room table, conference chair or in a hotel room – just for a few minutes. And when they return it has gone. The chances of seeing it again are minimal. So, what can we do about it?

Education
One of the main barriers to laptop security is a cultural one. We estimate that 95 percent of laptops are sold without a lock. So we don't automatically associate the two items. Often a laptop theft takes place in what seems like a safe environment. And if you haven't experienced it before, you may not be expecting it happen. It's interesting to consider that if you owned a bicycle worth over €1000, would you leave it anywhere unlocked? Probably not. And a laptop is even more valuable, when you consider its vital role at work.
 
At Kensington we want to help businesses to secure their laptops and to protect their organisations from unnecessary costs, loss of revenue as well as valuable data. Our mantra to all businesses is, 'log-on, lock-on'. Every day when people log-on to their office network we're encouraging them to lock-on at the same time. We'll help you change the culture in your company to take security seriously and avoid the risks of theft.

The right choice  
Kensington is the perfect business partner for laptop security because we invented it. We've developed a range of innovative laptop locks suitable for all types of business. Our products include:

Laptop locks: Our award winning MicroSaver range feature super strong carbon tempered steel cables to keep your laptops on your desks.
 
Portable locks: Today's mobile workforce is putting organisations at risk everyday. That's why we have designed a range of popular portable locks for use on the move.
 
Custom Keyed locks: Because we know that all businesses are different, we have a range of custom lock solutions. This means you can order your set of locks with an individual 'master' key for each lock, 'like' keys that open all the locks or a 'single keyed' solution.
 
Service and support: We're on hand to help with issues like lost keys and forgotten combinations. We also supply internal marketing posters adverts and information to spread the message to your employees. Remember to 'log-on, lock-on'.

Stephen Hoare, Security Business Development Director at Kensington Security, has developed a deep understanding of the challenges that face organisations. He positions Kensington as a partner rather than a supplier, offering value added services which help businesses with bespoke physical protection solutions, deployment and compliance measures unique to their requirements.