Why doesn´t the Government make backup copies of highly sensative files?

Question

Apart from this new "mistake" why have they not learnt from previous blunders?

Most people that have computers make back ups in case of lose or failure, so when it´s something so important as the security of the Nation (pretty important?) do they not make sure that if anything happens they have a replacement?

I cannot understand how the British Government can be soooo stupid, but hold on....actually I can, they are a laughing stock of the world.

Is this some kind of conspiracy? If you did something like this at work, you would be sacked on the spot what will happen......we all know, they will apologise and that's it.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080822/tpl-uk-britain-data-553508c

What measures are they taking that something like this doesn´t happen again???

Answer 1

These cases of "lost" data do not mean the data is lost for ever.All of these stories concern copies of data downloaded to laptops or unsecure media such as CD disks or pen drives.The original data is still in its original location.The problem is that the "lost" data is not secure and can be read by any determined and technically skilled person that comes across it.

The only way to prevent this happening again is to stop allowing people to download this kind of data onto unsecure portable devices which can be lost/mislaid.There really is no other way.

People who need acccess to Government data should be made to access it over secure links which prevent copies being made or data downloaded.This should be possible with a bit of time and effort.

  

Answer 2

Backup???

The information is not lost from a government computer system, its on a memory stick for anyone to find and access,

Answer 3

That would give them two lots to go astray! Or perhaps make a backup of the backup etc. We are all being "logged" and spied on anyway!

Edit: I clicked on the link but it is no longer! Is it lost??

Answer 4

It's back up and additional working copies that are being lost, not the original data.

Answer 5

The issue isn't the LOSS of information. It is the fact that an unencrypted copy of personal information might be seen by unauthorised people. And how they might use it.

Answer 6

I work for an education dept in I.T. for the government, and they have spent a fortune on encrypting laptops (around £200 per laptop, for over 800 users, just in this dept).

So it annoys me when they go and let people take unencrypted data home on usb sticks and CDs for them to 'lose'.

And I'm sceptical as to whether it was truly lost.  Surely you'd put the usb stick/CD in a briefcase along with other paperwork?  I'm sure the worker doesn't walk into work carrying nothing but his wallet, car keys and a usb stick.  And the usb stick happens to go missing....

Answer 7

What do you think that Data Stick was doing then?

It's a back up method.

I'm sure the Govt haven't lost the information, they have just lost a COPY of the information on a Data Stick. Actually it's an IT contractor working within (probably sacked by now) the Govt.

I work for an Outsourced IT Company in Government offices. Never lost squat !

Answer 8

They do have back-ups and replacements that is not the issue - when they lose a memory stick that's not the information permanently gone!

the issue is where the copies of this information are ending up and how that affects us as individuals!

Answer 9

That would be far too simple to do."They" prefer to make things as complicated as possible.

Answer 10

Because they are all useless and cant do their jobs.

Answer 11

Empress is right, however knowing the government, the more back-ups they have, the more they'll lose !

Answer 12

I'd like to know why the data needs physically transporting in this day & age. Should it not be sent electronically? That way there is no risk, especially if it is properly encrypted.