Iron Mountain stops PC data theft in its tracks

~DataDefense enables data elimination on stolen PCs and laptops.~

15th March 2006 – Iron Mountain Digital, the technology business unit of Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM), the global leader in information protection and storage services, has launched DataDefense™, a solution that encrypts and eliminates data on lost or stolen PCs.

Iron Mountain's DataDefense is based on innovative technology, which intelligently encrypts and automatically eliminates data on a lost or stolen computer to prevent its compromise or misuse. IT administrators can implement a set of rules, which will be triggered to delete data, for example, if there are a number of incorrect attempts to log in to the computer. Using a multi-layered approach to PC data security, DataDefense effectively secures data even when the PC is offline. Most importantly, Iron Mountain’s DataDefense solution ensures organisational control of that data, even when the user has lost control of the device, whether purchased as a product or service.

An increasing volume of critical and sensitive corporate information resides on employee laptops and PCs. With just a single event of PC loss or theft, there is significant risk of unauthorised access to sensitive information that could lead to negative publicity, regulatory non-compliance and legal liability. Information on PCs can and should be protected from this type of exposure.

Two key vulnerabilities exist in carrying data on mobile computers: the data can be lost due to system malfunction or computer theft, and that same data can be exploited by thieves seeking company secrets or identity theft information. Using Iron Mountain’s existing Connected DataProtector/PC™ product, millions of computer users have the peace of mind knowing that data will be accessible no matter what happens to their computer. With Iron Mountain's DataDefense solution, these same customers have the opportunity to keep that data, and its secrets, from misuse. The combined data protection suite offers enterprises complete control of vital information with no reduction in user productivity.

"In a recent ESG Research Survey, 68 per cent of users said that confidential data is most vulnerable on a laptop PC," said Jon Oltsik, senior analyst and founder of the Enterprise Strategy Group’s Information Security Practice. "This presents an ugly scenario where the most secure enterprises can be foiled by one unfortunate executive in the wrong place at the wrong time. Iron Mountain’s DataDefense solution guards against this common 'low skill/high impact' type of crime and protects against data breaches, compliance violations, and litigation in the process."

"Iron Mountain’s top priority is to further enhance security for and protection of our customers’ critical business information," said Hartmut Wagner, Managing Director of Iron Mountain’s Digital business unit in Europe. "With our market-leading DataProtector/PC solution we help businesses to restore their PC data in case of loss. If loss equals theft, we ensure with our DataDefense solution that our customers' data won't land in the wrong hands."

Iron Mountain’s DataDefense solution enhances the organisation’s existing comprehensive data protection solutions, which include:

• Electronic Vaulting: Iron Mountain's award-winning software and managed online data backup and recovery services to protect at-risk, distributed data stored on PCs and remote servers; the services include market-leading Connected DataProtector/PC and LiveVault Server Backup.
• Media Vaulting: Iron Mountain offers off-site vaulting of backup media in state-of-the-art facilities that keeps data off-site, off-line and out-of-reach, yet available when it is needed for data recovery
• Disaster Recovery Readiness: With tailored disaster recovery plans and disaster readiness tests, Iron Mountain helps businesses prepare for the unexpected, to be ready to recover their data and resume business immediately should disaster strike