Ruairí Quinn aka Quinn Kong* to those in the Labour inner circle has been asking all the Govt Departments what IT equipment they lost so far in 2008. Interesting reading.
Here’s the list:
Dept of Taoiseach:
No computer, desktops, laptops or other data devices, such as blackberries and memory keys, have been reported missing or stolen from my Department to date in 2008.
Dept of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
My Department’s records indicate that to date in 2008 one laptop has been reported stolen, one laptop reported missing and one BlackBerry device reported stolen. None has been recovered or found. There have been no other computers or data devices reported lost, missing or stolen during this period.
It is my Department’s policy to invoke the facility to remotely erase all data from a BlackBerry device as soon as it is reported missing, and immediately cancel the subscription with the service provider. In the case of the stolen BlackBerry it was not possible to do this locally and the device was disabled by the service provider at my Department’s request.
So if a Blackberry is stolen you wipe the data from it LOCALLY, as in if it is nicked but the robber is there with you, you wipe the data? No remote wiping then?
Dept of Finance
To date in 2008, one memory stick has been reported stolen and has not been recovered. I understand that no sensitive or private data was compromised with the loss of this device.
Dept of Health and Children
To date in 2008 there has been one item of ICT equipment reported lost, missing or stolen. This relates to a Blackberry which was stolen from a member of staff. It has not been recovered. I understand the device was password protected and that no sensitive or private data were compromised with the loss of this equipment.
Dept of Transport
There have been eight instances of laptop computers, data storage devices and memory sticks that have been reported lost, missing or stolen from my Department to date in 2008. These instances included five laptops and three Blackberries. Of these, four laptops and one Blackberry were subsequently recovered.
Dept of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
Dept of Foreign Affairs
In the period in question two Department owned laptops have been stolen and one Department issued USB memory stick was lost. None of these items have been recovered to date.
These devices did not contain any sensitive data and both laptops were encrypted.
Dept of Arts, Sport and Tourism
Dept of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
I am informed that no such devices were reported lost, missing or stolen to date in 2008.
Dept of Social and Family Affairs
The following data devices, owned by the Department, were reported stolen or lost to date in 2008:-
Two Laptops – (1 house break-in, 1 office break-in)
Two Desktops – Buncrana SWLO
None of these devices have been recovered.
As all client data is held on central databases, no client data is held on the stolen computer desktops.
Laptops can be used to access centrally stored client information through a secure remote log-in. No client data is retained on the laptops after the remote session ceases. Similarly, the Department’s e-mail system retains its data in a central location although it can be accessed through a secure remote log-in.
Dept of Defence
Dept of Environment, Heritage and Local Government:
To date in 2008, three laptops and one external hard drive have been reported stolen and have not been recovered.
No sensitive or personal data was stored on any of these devices.
Dept of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
There have been no reported losses of desktop PCs or memory keys in my Department to date in 2008. There have been two Blackberry devices lost, neither of which was recovered or found.
There have been no reports that any sensitive data has been compromised by these losses. The level of personal information relating to members of the public processed within my Department is very small.
Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
5 Laptops reported stolen
Dept of Education and Science
In 2008 to date no desktop computers, laptops or blackberry devices were reported lost, stolen or missing. One USB memory key was reported lost but was subsequently found. No sensitive or private data was compromised.
*May in fact be a total lie.
