Asset Management: Secure, Track Your Laptops

A number of interesting experiences and lessons are at play here for Starbucks ... The need for better security of private employee data. Traceability of its information technology assets. In this case, the company is not even sure that the assets are out of its possession. And, finally, transparency. Starbucks is being pretty open about the situation, as embarrassing as it is. They'll learn and improve from the experience. ...

... "Starbucks Corporation announced that four retired (no longer in regular use) laptops have been identified as missing from the Starbucks Corporate Support Center in Seattle. Two of the laptops contained the private information, including names and social security numbers, of nearly 60,000 United States partners (employees) and less than 80 Canadian partners and contractors at all levels employed across the organization prior to Dec.31, 2003. At this time, there is no indication that the private information in question has been misused or that the devices are in the hands of someone intending to misuse the information. These laptops may still be in the possession of Starbucks, however we cannot currently locate them. In accordance with Starbucks standards for information security, the laptops were password protected. " ...

Via Starbucks: Link