Stolen or lost device
It is normal for employees to have a laptop and/or mobile devices for their work. Especially people who are often travelling because of their job, or who work from home. Laptops and mobile devices, and the information on them, can be lost or stolen. For an organisation, unauthorised access to sensitive information can have major consequences.
Checklist actions after theft or loss of a device
Your business laptop, smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device has been stolen or lost. What should you do now? In any case, think about the following things.
Report the lost device to your employer.
In the case of smartphones and mobile devices, have the SIM card blocked by the supplier to prevent misuse or extra costs.
In the event of theft, report it to the police.
Determine what protective measures were installed on the stolen or lost device.
Try to find out what sensitive information was stored on the device.
If privacy-sensitive data is stored unencrypted on the missing laptop, it is a data breach. You must report this.
If business or customer-sensitive information was also lost, extra steps may need to be taken.
List the usernames used on the device and block or change the passwords of these usernames.
Report the theft to the device supplier or the company that provides service and maintenance for the device. Sometimes stolen equipment is presented to the supplier for repair or maintenance and can be traced.