Laptop losers fail to learn data loss lessons

~ research from Iron Mountain finds victims of loss or theft still fail to back up machines ~

25th May 2006 – Nearly one in three (29%) laptop users have, at some stage, lost their machine, either through carelessness or theft. However, almost two-thirds of those users (64%) still don’t backup their computers on a daily basis.

A recent survey conducted by Iron Mountain Digital, the technology arm of Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE: IRM), reveals that even victims of laptop loss take an ad-hoc approach to computer backup. One in ten of those questioned said they never backup their data and one in five only backup their machines occasionally.

The survey also found that of those who lost their laptops, almost one-fifth (18%) weren't up and running for weeks or months and nearly two-thirds (64%) were out of action for a number of days. Just 18% said they were back online within a matter of hours.

"You would think that anyone who had lost a laptop would be once bitten twice shy but our research shows that this isn’t the case," Nick Cater, general manager for Northern Europe at Iron Mountain Digital. "Laptop users are ignoring the dangers of data loss at their own peril."

"Without a regular backup routine, users could be out of action for considerable lengths of time, leading to major losses in productivity for both them and their businesses."

(Research undertaken at the InfoSecurity Europe show (April 2006) amongst 115 laptop users)