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PIA Partners With MobileSecure for Laptop Data Risk Management Solution

Posted on: Monday, 9 November 2009, 15:54 CST

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

Source: PR Newswire

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