❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice from 2010 investigates the theft of laptops and other portable computers from departments and agencies within the Premier's portfolio, seeking details on the number of thefts, value, data security, police reports, and preventative measures.
AnsweredQoN 4425Legislative Assembly
Asked
25 November 2010
Member
Portfolio
Premier; Treasurer; Minister for State Development
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many laptop, notebook and palm computers from each department and agency within the Premier’s portfolio have been reported stolen for the 12 months from 30 June 2009 to 30 June 2010?
(2) What was the total value of the computers that were lost or stolen?
(3) Did any of these computers contain information that could be regarded as sensitive?
(4) What steps have been taken to ensure that any commercial or sensitive information was not compromised?
(5) Was the loss or theft of any of these computers reported to the police; and
(a) if yes, when were these reports made;
(b) of those reported, what has been the outcome; and
(c) if any were not reported to the police, why not?
(6) What steps, if any, have been put into place with a view to eliminating, or at least reducing, these losses; and
(a) when were these steps put into place?
(2) What was the total value of the computers that were lost or stolen?
(3) Did any of these computers contain information that could be regarded as sensitive?
(4) What steps have been taken to ensure that any commercial or sensitive information was not compromised?
(5) Was the loss or theft of any of these computers reported to the police; and
(a) if yes, when were these reports made;
(b) of those reported, what has been the outcome; and
(c) if any were not reported to the police, why not?
(6) What steps, if any, have been put into place with a view to eliminating, or at least reducing, these losses; and
(a) when were these steps put into place?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 February 2011
Response time
84 days
Government agencies in the Premier's portfolio advise:
Department of the Premier and Cabinet:
(1) Nil.
(2-5) Not Applicable.
(6) The Department is in the process of gathering information about technologies available within the marketplace to reduce the risk of data loss which include: Data Loss Prevention and Data Leakage Security. While these technologies cannot prevent hardware theft (e.g. a laptop being stolen), they can ensure the data residing on those hardware devices is secured such that only authorised staff can access it.
(6a) Currently investigating technologies with a view to integrating them into the Department's future ICT security strategy.
Public Sector Commissioner (incl OPSSC as of 1/12/2010):
(1) PSC and OPSSC advise Nil laptop, notebook and palm computers were reported stolen for the 12 months from 30 June 2009 to 30 June 2010.
(2-6a) Not applicable
Salaries and Allowances Tribunal; Lotterywest:
(1) Nil
(2-6a) Not applicable
Department of State Development:
(1) Nil.
(2-5) Not applicable.
(6) All new portable departmental assets to include telephone, data phones, laptops, notebooks, etc are inconspicuously marked with DataDotDNA microdot for easy identification in the event of theft and are then conspicuously marked with a sticker that this technology has been utilised on the device.
(6a) On 1 January 2009, when the Department of State Development was established.
Gold Corporation:
(1) Nil
(2-5c) Not applicable
(6) Compulsory encryption of all handheld devices and all company data to be remotely access via the Citrix Web Portal.
(6a) Approximately 2008.
department of treasury and finance
(1) One
(2) $1 720
(3) No
(4) Not applicable
(5) Yes
(a) December 2009
(b) Computer not recovered
(c) Not applicable
(6) Nil
(a) Not applicable
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE SUPERANUATION BOARD
(1) Nil
(2) - (6) Not applicable
INSURANCE COMMISSION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
(1) Nil
(2) - (6) Not applicable
OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL
(1) One
(2) $1 500.00
(3) Yes
(4) Access to sensitive information is protected by inbuilt security measures on all hardware including password protected hard drives.
(5) Yes
(a) the laptop was reported to Police when it was advised that it was stolen from Swan Tafe.
(b) No outcome to date.
(6) External clients are required to provide secure storage facilities for Office of the Auditor General equipment whilst working at their site. This is conveyed to the client at the commencement of each audit.
(a) These steps have always existed. However this requirement has been reinforced to all staff.
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN TREASURY CORPORATION
(1) Nil
(2) - (6) Not applicable
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Department of the Premier and Cabinet:
(1) Nil.
(2-5) Not Applicable.
(6) The Department is in the process of gathering information about technologies available within the marketplace to reduce the risk of data loss which include: Data Loss Prevention and Data Leakage Security. While these technologies cannot prevent hardware theft (e.g. a laptop being stolen), they can ensure the data residing on those hardware devices is secured such that only authorised staff can access it.
(6a) Currently investigating technologies with a view to integrating them into the Department's future ICT security strategy.
Public Sector Commissioner (incl OPSSC as of 1/12/2010):
(1) PSC and OPSSC advise Nil laptop, notebook and palm computers were reported stolen for the 12 months from 30 June 2009 to 30 June 2010.
(2-6a) Not applicable
Salaries and Allowances Tribunal; Lotterywest:
(1) Nil
(2-6a) Not applicable
Department of State Development:
(1) Nil.
(2-5) Not applicable.
(6) All new portable departmental assets to include telephone, data phones, laptops, notebooks, etc are inconspicuously marked with DataDotDNA microdot for easy identification in the event of theft and are then conspicuously marked with a sticker that this technology has been utilised on the device.
(6a) On 1 January 2009, when the Department of State Development was established.
Gold Corporation:
(1) Nil
(2-5c) Not applicable
(6) Compulsory encryption of all handheld devices and all company data to be remotely access via the Citrix Web Portal.
(6a) Approximately 2008.
department of treasury and finance
(1) One
(2) $1 720
(3) No
(4) Not applicable
(5) Yes
(a) December 2009
(b) Computer not recovered
(c) Not applicable
(6) Nil
(a) Not applicable
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE SUPERANUATION BOARD
(1) Nil
(2) - (6) Not applicable
INSURANCE COMMISSION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA
(1) Nil
(2) - (6) Not applicable
OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL
(1) One
(2) $1 500.00
(3) Yes
(4) Access to sensitive information is protected by inbuilt security measures on all hardware including password protected hard drives.
(5) Yes
(a) the laptop was reported to Police when it was advised that it was stolen from Swan Tafe.
(b) No outcome to date.
(6) External clients are required to provide secure storage facilities for Office of the Auditor General equipment whilst working at their site. This is conveyed to the client at the commencement of each audit.
(a) These steps have always existed. However this requirement has been reinforced to all staff.
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN TREASURY CORPORATION
(1) Nil
(2) - (6) 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
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