Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2008
312 Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Transport the measures or policies that have been implemented to prevent loss of private data from laptops, blackberries and other hand-held devices in his Department; if he has satisfied himself that all personal information held within his Department is secure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35677/08]
View answerI am informed by my Department's IT security team that we have a suite of security policies which include the security of portable electronic data devices.
All personal data in electronic format is protected using industry best practices. Access to such data is restricted to those officers who have a business requirement to use it. Mechanisms are in place to remotely delete data from any laptop stolen from the Department, which connects to the Internet. Data that has been transferred from my Department's network to laptops is automatically encrypted. All portable devices are password protected when issued to staff.
Personal data on physical files is secured by restricted access to buildings and is locked away in filing cabinets to which only appropriate staff members have access.
Data security measures are regularly reviewed in my Department in the light of changing circumstances. A review is currently underway and its findings are expected to be implemented by early 2009. This review will include, but not be limited to, the security policy for portable electronic data devices.
