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PS privacy probe
reveals problems
A survey by the Privacy Commissioner into the use and management of portable IT storage devices such as flashdrives and tablet computers in the Victorian Public Service has revealed an unacceptable level of risk and poor management.
The Commissioner, Helen Versey, described the survey results as “disappointing” saying they showed no improvement over a similar damning report in 2008.
“The use of tablets and smartphones has exploded and presents new challenges in the workplace,” Ms Versey said.
| ‘Unacceptable’ says Commissioner |
“Unfortunately it appears that a number of organisations have failed to learn that lesson – or indeed other lessons – from the original survey.”
She said the 2011 survey was designed to gauge the degree to which organisations first surveyed in 2008 had improved their management of portable storage devices (PSDs), as well as examine how new devices such as tablets were being managed.
“Seven organisations, including three local Councils, still had no documented policies and procedures to control the use of PSDs, despite the fact that I recommended in the first survey report that, at a minimum, organisations require them,” she said.
“The fact that 12 organisations still do not restrict the use of PSDs in the face of risks such as those posed by portable external hard drives is unacceptable.
“The reality is that these devices now have the capacity to store an organisation’s entire data holdings.”
She said it was difficult to see how organisations that had obligations to manage personal information properly could ignore this significant data security risk, and they did so at their peril.
She said while smartphones, tablets and portable external hard drives provided great benefits to the workplace they also create additional privacy risks, and PSD policies should be substantially expanded to cater for the full range of issues raised by the use of these technologies.
The 2011 survey results can be found at this PS News link.
Edition 250, 8 February 2012
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