My laptop is lost or stolen, what should I do?

We often picture cybercriminals as evil geniuses in MI5-style control rooms, working to uncover weaknesses in businesses worldwide. In reality, it’s rarely that glamorous. You’ve likely passed cybercriminals in the street and been none the wiser, especially the type targeting small businesses. They’re normal, opportunistic people, always looking for the most efficient way to get at your data and make it pay. Which is why laptop loss or theft should be taken extremely seriously.

With the rise in office working and after-work drinks in UK cities, laptop thefts are on the rise. Cybercriminals watch behaviour in these environments and know exactly how to spot an opportunity to steal a valuable device. In the event of theft or loss, poor laptop security could lead to cyber-attacks, data breaches, identity theft, and considerable GDPR or ICO fines.

If your laptop is lost or stolen, what do you do?

If you’ve found yourself losing your laptop, or it’s been stolen, don’t panic. Here’s your checklist:

1. Wipe your device

   Remote wiping removes all data from your device wherever it is, this should be your priority, combating criminals looking to steal or manipulate your data. To find out how, contact your IT partner or internal IT team; they should have measures in place for this.

2. Notify the authorities

   File a police report, detailing as much as possible. You may need a police report for an insurance claim. If it’s a work device, check with your IT company too, they may have device-tracking abilities to provide to the authorities.

3. Alert your bank and card providers

   Notify the necessary banking authorities, personal and corporate. They can advise on the best next steps to protect your finances.

4. Change your passwords

   If your laptop lacked proper security like MFA, mobile device management and device encryption, change all your passwords as soon as possible, especially for important or sensitive accounts. A thief who signs in could find passwords for other things (your password manager, Google account, and more). Use complex, unique passwords, a mix of numbers, letters and symbols with no recognisable words, and a password manager to create and store them.

5. Stay vigilant

   You know the laptop is missing but not where it is. Monitor for any unauthorised activity or access to your accounts. If someone tries to log in from an unknown location you’ll likely be emailed, and guided on how to proceed if it wasn’t you.

6. Contact the device manufacturer

   Many manufacturers offer online services to help locate a device or flag it as stolen, and advise on steps like disabling device-specific services or blocking connected Apple/Microsoft accounts. You’ll need the model, serial number and date of purchase. If the laptop is registered to your organisation, check with your IT team first, they may handle this for you.

Precautionary measures to keep your laptop protected

Life is unpredictable, and the chance of losing a laptop is always lurking, left in a taxi, misplaced at the pub. So what’s the game plan before disaster strikes? There are plenty of preemptive measures to minimise potential damage:

What risks does a stolen laptop create?

Beyond losing the device itself, a stolen laptop can cause everything from financial loss to the exposure of sensitive information. Laptops often store account passwords, financial information and private messages, so a thief may reach your bank accounts, credit cards or other platforms. For businesses, losing confidential documents or client data can mean financial, legal and reputational damage.

Preventative device security in action

That prompt, efficient response was possible because the organisation had implemented:

• Mobile Device Management
• Mobile App Management
• Device Encryption
• Cyber Security Training
• Cloud Data Storage
• A comprehensive IT Security Policy

The crucial role IT providers play in securing your devices

Your IT support partner will help you establish a robust IT security plan, including preventative measures to minimise damage if a device is lost or stolen, and advise on how those measures work together to combat threats.

With a reputable IT company you’ll usually have one point of contact to manage and guide you through any crisis. So if device loss or theft does occur, it’s critical you and your employees alert that person immediately; they’ll work with you to mitigate the security issues that come with it.

How can Sereno help?

If you or a team member loses a company device, reach out to us immediately and we’ll act instantly based on the controls you have in place. Our friendly team is trained to guide you through the next steps calmly, removing as much stress as possible. Specifically, we’ll:

• Make sure you have the right preventative measures in place, our Cyber Security Packages include encryption, remote wiping and reporting.
• Take action and manage the situation as standard; if you’ve implemented measures as part of our Cyber Security Packages, we’re even better equipped to handle crises.
• Organise new devices once yours are secured, tools like Autopilot let us build devices remotely in about an hour, minimising disruption.
• Run a comprehensive review of your IT environment to spot weaknesses, then meet with you quarterly to keep you protected.
• Provide Remote Management tools as part of our support, so we can enforce the security controls that combat breaches in a crisis.
• Help you establish centralised policies across all your devices, so protection is enforced and reportable at all times.

For more on how we can help you combat the security risks of lost or stolen devices, contact us today.