Since the start of the “lockdown”, many businesses are working remotely. For some, that meant either purchasing laptops to make it easier for employees to work from home, or you may already have been using laptops, especially if you have a mobile workforce.The question however is, how safe is your data on your portable device? What would happen if your laptop were stolen due to a break-in to your business, or your car? Put your mind to rest and start encrypting your laptops today.

Encryption Explained

Without getting into a quagmire of techno-jargon, encryption is the process of using mathematical algorithms to “scramble” the data on your hard drive. The only way to “unscramble” the data, is by providing the right encryption key. This is usually associated with a PIN or passphrase. How this is used on your laptop is that software is installed that will encrypt a portion of your hard drive, or the entire disk. When you start your computer, instead of it booting right into Windows, you will be presented with an authentication screen. Entering the PIN or passphrase allows the machine to continue booting into the operating system.

Why You Need It

If your business requires that you collect personal identifiable information from your customers, such as date of birth, social security numbers, etc, encrypting your laptops is something that you will want to consider. Should a laptop be stolen, and that information is compromised, you will be facing legal consequences for not taking steps to secure your data. One of the bigger expenses is having to provide credit monitoring services for any affected person. If you have a lot of customers, the costs will add up quickly.

Without the PIN or passphrase to that machine, they cannot startup the computer any further. Also, should they remove the hard drive, there is no way to access the data. It will simply look like gobbledygook, or it may show nothing is on it at all. Therefore, while the loss of a laptop is heartbreaking and expensive, the potential financial implications of not encrypting your data far exceeds the cost of the machine itself.

Ready To Take Action

If you have decided that you want to start encrypting your laptops, Absolute Technology Solutions is ready to take action. There is no “one size fits all” solution for encryption. Call us today and we can help guide you to the right choice for your needs.

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