US Commerce Department Laptop Problem

The Commerce Department recently reported that it lost over 1000 laptop computers over the past few years. Well after the laptop security incident involving two laptops at the Veterans Administration and the exposure of personal data involving military personnel, hopefully the Commerce Department learned lessons about data security.

According to public reports, the Commerce Department apparently did maintain some data encryption and password protection requirements for its laptops. The extent of such protection is not yet clear, however. What is clear is that the Commerce Department, the Veterans Administration and governments and private business alike needs to make sure that proper password authentication and, if necessary, encryption protection remains standardized throughout corporate and government structures.