❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice reveals the theft of 7 laptops from the Department of Health in a 6-month period, valued at $11,970. Security upgrades were implemented at Royal Perth Hospital as a result of some incidents.
AnsweredQoN 5887Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many laptop, notebook and palm computers were reported stolen in the six months to 31 December 2007?
(2) What was the total value of these computers?
(3) Did any contain information that could be regarded as sensitive?
(4) What steps have been taken to ensure that any commercial or other sensitive information was not compromised?
(5) Was the loss or theft of any of these laptops, notebooks or palm computers reported to the police?
(6) If yes to (5), when?
(7) Of those reported, what has been the outcome?
(8) If any were not reported, why not?
(9) What steps have been taken with a view to eliminating, or at least reducing, these losses or thefts?
(10) When were these steps put in place?
(2) What was the total value of these computers?
(3) Did any contain information that could be regarded as sensitive?
(4) What steps have been taken to ensure that any commercial or other sensitive information was not compromised?
(5) Was the loss or theft of any of these laptops, notebooks or palm computers reported to the police?
(6) If yes to (5), when?
(7) Of those reported, what has been the outcome?
(8) If any were not reported, why not?
(9) What steps have been taken with a view to eliminating, or at least reducing, these losses or thefts?
(10) When were these steps put in place?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 April 2008
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Health
Response time
51 days
MINISTERIAL OFFICE
1. Nil.
2 -10 Not applicable.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(1) 7 laptops were stolen in this period.
(2) Combined total value of $11,970.
(3) Without a detailed analysis of each laptop it is not possible to absolutely determine whether any sensitive information was stored on the laptops or PDA at the time they were stolen.
(4) All laptop, notebook and palm computers are set up with the expectation they will be connected to the WA Health computer network. When the laptop is not connected to the WA Health network, the computer cannot be accessed without the knowledge of a logon and password, which has been used whilst the laptop was connected to the network. Only persons with a very high level of IT knowledge would be able to successfully access the files stored on a WA Health computer.
In some cases instructions have been placed on shared laptops requesting that staff not keep sensitive/confidential material on hard-disk drive, instead place this info on CD or save it to a drive that can be accessed when the computer is connected to the WA Health network.
(5) Yes.
(6) Reports were made to the Police on the following dates:
14 July 2007 (one laptop);
31 July 2007 (four laptops were stolen in one incident);
21 August 2007 (one laptop); and
19 November 2007 (one laptop).
(7) None of the laptops have been recovered.
(8) Not applicable.
(9) All staff allocated the use of a laptop, notebook or palm computer (blackberry or PDA) for their work are informed that they are to keep the equipment safe. As a result of two of the incidents, building security upgrades occurred at Royal Perth Hospital. These were implemented the next day.
(10) The protocols and procedures for new users are outlined for all DOH staff who are allocated the use of a laptop, notebook or palm computer, and reminders regarding the care of government property are issued when equipment has been lost or stolen as an ongoing risk management process.
OFFICE OF HEALTH REVIEW
1. Nil.
2- 10 Not applicable.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
1. Nil.
2 -10 Not applicable.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(1) 7 laptops were stolen in this period.
(2) Combined total value of $11,970.
(3) Without a detailed analysis of each laptop it is not possible to absolutely determine whether any sensitive information was stored on the laptops or PDA at the time they were stolen.
(4) All laptop, notebook and palm computers are set up with the expectation they will be connected to the WA Health computer network. When the laptop is not connected to the WA Health network, the computer cannot be accessed without the knowledge of a logon and password, which has been used whilst the laptop was connected to the network. Only persons with a very high level of IT knowledge would be able to successfully access the files stored on a WA Health computer.
In some cases instructions have been placed on shared laptops requesting that staff not keep sensitive/confidential material on hard-disk drive, instead place this info on CD or save it to a drive that can be accessed when the computer is connected to the WA Health network.
(5) Yes.
(6) Reports were made to the Police on the following dates:
14 July 2007 (one laptop);
31 July 2007 (four laptops were stolen in one incident);
21 August 2007 (one laptop); and
19 November 2007 (one laptop).
(7) None of the laptops have been recovered.
(8) Not applicable.
(9) All staff allocated the use of a laptop, notebook or palm computer (blackberry or PDA) for their work are informed that they are to keep the equipment safe. As a result of two of the incidents, building security upgrades occurred at Royal Perth Hospital. These were implemented the next day.
(10) The protocols and procedures for new users are outlined for all DOH staff who are allocated the use of a laptop, notebook or palm computer, and reminders regarding the care of government property are issued when equipment has been lost or stolen as an ongoing risk management process.
OFFICE OF HEALTH REVIEW
1. Nil.
2- 10 Not applicable.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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