04.02.2009

People pose the greatest risk to information security in mobile work

The Safer Internet Day Week is launched on 4 February 2009 and culminates in the national Safer Internet Day on Tuesday, 10 February 2009. This year's focus is also on the information security of mobile work in small and medium-sized companies.

Work moves with the worker

When work is done outside the office, it is important to ensure that the telecommunications connections, in particular, are protected and third parties do not have access to confidential information. It must also be taken into consideration that the equipment may break down. The human being is still the greatest risk to information security.

According to a recent survey by KPMG, data leakages and violations of the protection of privacy have increased remarkably during the past few years. In 2009, data leakages are believed to duplicate in comparison with the previous year. According to KPMG, organisations that share confidential data with third parties and use external data processors and other services provided by a third party are the most vulnerable ones.

In the business sector, in terms of information security, it is essential that information that is important for business is recognized and protected. This applies to plans about information security in mobile work, where it is important to e.g. restrict the amount of confidential data in portable devices, ensure that back-ups are taken and protect data in open networks. In order to make sure that safe working methods become a daily routine, it is important to give the personnel instructions on the risks of mobile work and ways in which to protect against them.

The Safer Internet Day project provides a free online service called 'Yrityksen tietoturvaopas' (www.tietoturvaopas.fi), in Finnish and Swedish, to small and medium-sized companies. The service shares practical information on information security in companies. The website includes tips and tools for determining the data to be protected, drafting an information security plan and maintaining good information security practices in the business sector. The website has a new section on the information security in mobile work, which is this year's theme.

Do you know the whereabouts of your company's data? morning sessions

In March-May 2009, the Safer Internet Day project and the chambers of commerce will arrange a seminar tour called 'Do you know the whereabouts of your company's data". The events will be held in 22 regions. The purpose of the events is to share practical information on the stumbling stones of information security in mobile work and give advice on how to avoid them.

More information on the seminars is available at www.tietoturvaopas.fi and www.chamber.fi.

The Safer Internet Day and week is an annual campaign, which aims at informing the citizens of how to use the internet and other electronic media in the safest and smartest possible way. The campaign makes use of communications and social advertising to reach its goal. Thirty-six companies, organisations and authorities participate in the Safer Internet Day.

Further information:
Anna Lauttamus-Kauppila, Chairperson of the project, Communications Director, +358 50 563 5724, anna.lauttamus-kauppila@ficora.fi
Heli Alanko, Project Coordinator, +358 40 581 1188, heli.alanko@ficora.fi
Jaakko Turunen, Legal Counsel, the Central Chamber of Commerce, +358 40 552 7663, jaakko.turunen@chamber.fi

Members of the Safer Internet Day: D-Fence Oy, DNA Oy, Elisa Corporation, Enter ry, F-Secure Corporation, fiMUG, the Federation of Finnish Financial Services, Finnet Association, the National Emergency Supply Agency, the Central Chamber of Commerce, the Consumer Agency, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare, the Media Education Centre, Microsoft Corporation, the National Board of Education, the Ministry of Education, Save the Children Finland, Sulake Corporation, the Federation of Finnish Municipalities, the Federation of Finnish Enterprises, TeliaSonera Finland Oyj,TIEKE Finnish Information Society Association, FiCom - the Finnish Federation for Communications and Teleinformatics, the Office of the Data Protection Ombudsman, the Finnish Information Security Association, VTT, the Finnish Communications Regulatory Authority, the Population Register Centre, University of Jyväskylä, Office of the Ombudsman for Children in Finland, Lähivakuutus, Macecraft Software, the Ministry of the Interior, Stonesoft Oyj and Finnish Parents' Association.

KPMG's Data Loss Barometer - Review of 2008 and predictions for 2009 can be found at http://www.kpmg.fi/Binary.aspx?Section=2353&Item=5223.