b.c. govt. finally gets it

Ban to remain on selling government computer equipment
Canadian Press, March 24, 2006

VICTORIA -- The B.C. government's ban on selling off old computer equipment is staying in place.

The ban was ordered March 3 after sensitive personal medical data on thousands of British Columbians contained on dozens of backup computer tapes was sold at a government auction.

A report on the government's investigation into the breach has been released by Labour Minister Mike de Jong, who says continuing the ban on the sale of all data-storage technology "just makes sense.''

The report by the information security branch of the Chief Information Officer department makes 10 other recommendations, including beefed-up policies around the sale of government property and improvements to employee accountability.

It also suggests looking at the feasibility of encrypting government data on portable storage devices such as laptops and BlackBerrys.

Another recommendation calls on the government to make it mandatory to report lost portable devices, including storage media, within 24 hours from the time of loss.

Investigators found the data tapes should have been destroyed during the move of a government office in Vancouver, but it appears they were accidentally sent to government surplus.

Investigators are confident that personal information on the tapes has not been used, distributed or copied.

After being turned over to The Vancouver Sun by the purchaser, the 41 data tapes are back in B.C. government hands.

earlier posts: b.c. govt computers hacked negligent bc govt, private info