❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice reveals the number of lost or stolen laptops, notebooks, and palm computers across various government departments for the six months leading up to June 30, 2007, along with details on their value, data security, and reporting procedures.
AnsweredQoN 2523Legislative Assembly
Asked
14 August 2007
Member
Portfolio
Attorney General; Minister for Health; Electoral Affairs
QuestionView source ↗
(a) how many laptop, notebook and palm computers have been reported lost or stolen for the six months to 30 June 2007;
(b) what was the total value of the computers that were lost or stolen;
(c) did any of these computers contain information that could be regarded as sensitive;
(d) what steps have been taken to ensure that any commercial or sensitive information was not compromised;
(e) was the loss or theft of any of these computers reported to the police;
(f) if yes to (e), when were these reports made;
(g) of those reported, what has been the outcome;
(h) if any computers that were lost or stolen were not reported to the police, why not;
(i) what steps, if any, have been put into place with a view to eliminating, or at least reducing, these losses; and
(j) when were these steps put into place?
(b) what was the total value of the computers that were lost or stolen;
(c) did any of these computers contain information that could be regarded as sensitive;
(d) what steps have been taken to ensure that any commercial or sensitive information was not compromised;
(e) was the loss or theft of any of these computers reported to the police;
(f) if yes to (e), when were these reports made;
(g) of those reported, what has been the outcome;
(h) if any computers that were lost or stolen were not reported to the police, why not;
(i) what steps, if any, have been put into place with a view to eliminating, or at least reducing, these losses; and
(j) when were these steps put into place?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 September 2007
Response time
35 days
MINISTERIAL OFFICE
(a) Nil;
(b)-(j) Not applicable.
DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
(a) One notebook was stolen.
(b) $2,200 excluding GST.
(c) No.
(d) All Department notebooks have been configured with a special encrypted folder. All users of notebooks are required to use the encrypted folder for their work. Information in the encrypted folder is protected from unauthorised access and is automatically backed up into the Department's main computer network when the notebook is connected to the network.
(e) Yes, with the exception of one laptop - see (h).
(f) A police report for the one stolen notebook was made on 28 April 2007.
(g) The item reported has not been recovered.
(h) Not applicable.
(i) The Department has a policy that requires staff to ensure the security of notebooks and palm computers and also requires that stolen and lost notebooks and palm computers be reported to the Police. The Department requires the person reporting the incident to sign a Statutory Declaration outlining the facts surrounding the loss or theft of the notebook or palm computer and for Managers to consider the degree of staff negligence involved in the loss of the item. Where it is determined that an individual was negligent, disciplinary action may proceed.
(j) Completion of Statutory Declarations and consideration of any negligence involved in the loss were introduced in December 2006.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(a) Eight laptops and one palm computer (PDA) were reported stolen.
(b) Total combined value of $12,682.
(c) 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.
(d) Laptops are set up with the expectation that they will be connected to the Department of Health or Health Service computer networks. When a laptop is not connected to the network, the computer cannot be accessed without the knowledge of the logon and password used whilst the laptop was connected to the network. The majority of main files and data are stored on the networks.
The stolen PDA was also password protected.
(e) Yes.
(f) The thefts were reported immediately after it was ascertained that the items were stolen, not lost.
(g) None of the items have been recovered.
(h) Due to an administrative error one laptop was not reported to the police. The administrative processes in this area are currently being addressed and contact will be made with the police accordingly.
(i) 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. In the case of one stolen laptop, security alarms have since been installed in the office from which the laptop was stolen.
(j) 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.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS
(a) Nil;
(b)-(j) Not applicable.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
(a) 1 Laptop
(b) $2068.00 (plus $616.92 in software and accessories)
(c) No
(d) Not applicable.
(e) Yes
(f) Same day as theft (01/02/07)
(g) Goods were not recovered and were replaced through insurance
(h) Not applicable.
(i) Staff were reminded of their responsibilities in accordance with internal policies to ensure assets are managed properly.
(j) At the time of the incident.
LAW REFORM COMMISSION
(a) Nil;
(b)-(j) Not applicable.
LEGAL AID WA
(a) Nil;
(b)-(j) Not applicable.
OFFICE OF THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER
(a) Nil;
(b)-(j) Not applicable.
OFFICE OF HEALTH REVIEW
(a) Nil;
(b)-(j) Not applicable.
W.A. ELECTORAL COMMISSION
(a) Nil;
(b)-(j) Not applicable.
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(a) Nil;
(b)-(j) Not applicable.
DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
(a) One notebook was stolen.
(b) $2,200 excluding GST.
(c) No.
(d) All Department notebooks have been configured with a special encrypted folder. All users of notebooks are required to use the encrypted folder for their work. Information in the encrypted folder is protected from unauthorised access and is automatically backed up into the Department's main computer network when the notebook is connected to the network.
(e) Yes, with the exception of one laptop - see (h).
(f) A police report for the one stolen notebook was made on 28 April 2007.
(g) The item reported has not been recovered.
(h) Not applicable.
(i) The Department has a policy that requires staff to ensure the security of notebooks and palm computers and also requires that stolen and lost notebooks and palm computers be reported to the Police. The Department requires the person reporting the incident to sign a Statutory Declaration outlining the facts surrounding the loss or theft of the notebook or palm computer and for Managers to consider the degree of staff negligence involved in the loss of the item. Where it is determined that an individual was negligent, disciplinary action may proceed.
(j) Completion of Statutory Declarations and consideration of any negligence involved in the loss were introduced in December 2006.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(a) Eight laptops and one palm computer (PDA) were reported stolen.
(b) Total combined value of $12,682.
(c) 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.
(d) Laptops are set up with the expectation that they will be connected to the Department of Health or Health Service computer networks. When a laptop is not connected to the network, the computer cannot be accessed without the knowledge of the logon and password used whilst the laptop was connected to the network. The majority of main files and data are stored on the networks.
The stolen PDA was also password protected.
(e) Yes.
(f) The thefts were reported immediately after it was ascertained that the items were stolen, not lost.
(g) None of the items have been recovered.
(h) Due to an administrative error one laptop was not reported to the police. The administrative processes in this area are currently being addressed and contact will be made with the police accordingly.
(i) 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. In the case of one stolen laptop, security alarms have since been installed in the office from which the laptop was stolen.
(j) 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.
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS
(a) Nil;
(b)-(j) Not applicable.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION
(a) 1 Laptop
(b) $2068.00 (plus $616.92 in software and accessories)
(c) No
(d) Not applicable.
(e) Yes
(f) Same day as theft (01/02/07)
(g) Goods were not recovered and were replaced through insurance
(h) Not applicable.
(i) Staff were reminded of their responsibilities in accordance with internal policies to ensure assets are managed properly.
(j) At the time of the incident.
LAW REFORM COMMISSION
(a) Nil;
(b)-(j) Not applicable.
LEGAL AID WA
(a) Nil;
(b)-(j) Not applicable.
OFFICE OF THE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER
(a) Nil;
(b)-(j) Not applicable.
OFFICE OF HEALTH REVIEW
(a) Nil;
(b)-(j) Not applicable.
W.A. ELECTORAL COMMISSION
(a) Nil;
(b)-(j) Not applicable.
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