Remote Laptop Security Launched by Alcatel-Lucent
It’s estimated that in the EU’s airports alone, travellers lose 3,300 laptops a week, and the Ponemon Institute (and analyst company) values data breach cost of this to businesses at £47 per lost record. We all know we don’t want to lose laptops not just because of the cost, but because of the data.
Tom Burns, (head of enterprise activities) from Alcatel-Lucent who have carried out a recent study said; “The security of data on company and government laptops is a genuine concern for executives and agency leaders around the globe… The recent study shows that nearly three out of four IT security managers have had to help their company deal with the consequences of a lost or stolen company laptop.”
In response to this, Alcatel-Lucent has launched a “revamped” version of its OmniAccess 3500 Nonstop Laptop Guardian (NLG) laptop management device, and in the process added HSPA support.
The NLG consists of a PCMCIA card with a Linux operating system embedded within it. This cleverly and neatly slots into a laptop/notebook giving the user a range of features. The aim is to allow those poor overworked underpaid IT departments to secure, monitor, manage and locate the devices fitted with it over 3G, and protect the data contained on the machine if lost or stolen. And the clever bit is, it does this remotely, conjuring up visions of a “Mission Impossible” style destruction sequence for stolen laptops!
The revamped NLG is now “next-generation high-speed 3G GSM/HSPA network compatible” (previously it had only worked on CDMA-based 3G networks) so it’s abilities are significantly enhanced.
Alcatel-Lucent carried out a recent survey, and report that 76% of users in the US and Germany said that when a laptop is lost/stolen, “more than encryption” is necessary. They wanted to be able to locate the device and remotely “revoke access to data” (not explode the machine, Mission Impossible style, which seems a real wasted opportunity…).
Half the executive IT decision makers said they would change the companies they use for security if one offered remote protection plus auto VPN capabilities and remote management of laptops even when switched off.
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