WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of
Professional Insurance Agents (PIA National) today announced its partnership
with MobileSecure, Inc. and the rollout of MobileSecure's Laptop Protective
Services(TM) program for insurance agents from coast-to-coast. Today's
announcement builds on the continuing efforts of PIA to provide its members
with relevant technological solutions to address the growing data security
needs and demands faced by their members during the course of the daily
operation of their business.
"Use of laptops is becoming increasingly dangerous, with serious consequences
for losing the confidential information of companies and customers," said PIA
National Executive Vice President & CEO Leonard C. Brevik. "Incidents relating
to lost and stolen laptops are becoming more frequent, leading 45 states, the
District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico to enact stringent data security
regulations with which all businesses must comply."
According to the Confidential Data at Risk study conducted by the Ponemon
Institute:
-- four of five U.S. companies have lost at least one laptop containing
sensitive information during the past year,
-- nine of ten companies say there was sensitive or confidential
information on the lost laptop and many companies are ignorant about
what data was actually on the missing device,
-- nearly two of three admitted their companies had never conducted a
data
inventory to determine where employee and customer information was
located, and
-- half admitted that business confidential information was never
inventoried.
The laws currently in place in those 45 states, District of Columbia, Guam and
Puerto Rico in most cases require that breaches in data security be reported
to the Office of the Attorney General, and it is becoming increasingly
important that companies are protected and comply with these laws. If
ignored, the consequences are potentially catastrophic.
PIA recognizes that use of laptops in the course of everyday business is the
norm for many of its members and yet companies have limited time and resources
to dedicate to data security. "We understand that there is a very real danger
that many of our members are going to lose laptops or have them stolen," said
Alexi Papandon, PIA National's assistant vice president of communications. "We
recognized this problem and determined that the best solution for our members
was for PIA to partner with MobileSecure, Inc. to offer agents its Laptop
Protective Services program. PIA strongly encourages its members to review
their data security plans and, if their agency uses laptops, to implement LPS
immediately."
"Using LPS, the activity of a laptop can be monitored and, if there is a
concern that it is lost or stolen, it can be remotely locked down to prevent
unauthorized access to the data," said Duncan Mackay, President and CEO of
MobileSecure. "Companies can immediately ascertain what customer or other
confidential data might have been exposed and can use the file audit reports
generated by LPS at the time of lock down when reporting the data breach
incident to their state attorney general."
"Apart from taking action after a security event," added Mackay, "by tracking
what files are on each laptop LPS enables companies to understand the
potential exposure ahead of time and to take appropriate action to protect
itself and the company's clients."
For additional information visit the Laptop Protective Services section of the
PIA National website at www.pianet.com/LaptopProtectiveServices.
About PIA
Founded in 1931, PIA is a national trade association that represents member
insurance agents and their employees who sell and service all kinds of
insurance, but specialize in coverage of automobiles, homes and businesses.
PIA members are Local Agents Serving Main Street America (SM). PIA's web
address is www.pianet.com.
About MobileSecure
MobileSecure provides innovative solutions that prevent data loss and leakage
of high-value content and intellectual property. The MobileSecure platform
allows companies to enforce prevention of data theft and also monitor devices
and data as they move throughout the mobile environment.
This press release online at:
http://www.pianet.com/NewsCenter/PressReleases/11-9-09.htm
SOURCE National Association of Professional Insurance Agents
Ted Besesparis of the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents,
+1-703-518-1352
