The UK is proving somewhat careless when it comes to data management, with figures showing more than half (53 per cent) of British business managers have disengaged the encryption on their laptops.
Only business managers in the US were found to be worse, with 60 per cent placing corporate information at risk by turning off company laptops' encryption solutions.
The UK also came second only to the US in the bad stakes where a lost or stolen laptop resulted in a data breach, according to the Human Factor in Laptop Encryption study from Absolute Software Corporation and the Ponemon Institute.
Almost two-thirds (61 per cent) of UK IT managers admitted stolen devices had led to a data breach, compared to 72 per cent of Americans.
"While laptop encryption is an essential and important security tool, improper end-user actions such as turning off security features, sharing passwords, or using insecure wireless networks may substantially reduce the effectiveness of encryption in protecting laptop computers," warned Dr Larry Ponemon.
UK organisations may want to take note of the findings, especially when new powers are handed to the Information Commissioner's Office.
From 6 April 2010, the regulatory body will be able to implement penalties of up to 500,000 for serious breaches of the Data Protection Act.
