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So you have an asset tracking solution?

But what about recovery? Most organisations with large numbers of PCs and/or laptops deploy some or other form of asset tracking software that will alert them when their hardware is 'lost' or stolen, and in many instances will even provide details of the new location of the equipment to facilitate its recovery.

Because of the high cost of insuring their equipment, (including the excess in the case of a claim), many organisations are opting to go the route of self-insurance. Neither of these options, however, covers the true cost of the loss, or the cost of recovering from the loss. The reason being that few, if any, organisations include the cost of permanent loss, or recovery, of the intellectual capital and sensitive data contained on the lost/stolen equipment. Referring to the loss of intellectual capital, it should be noted that as with motor vehicle theft, many of the PC/laptop thefts are 'to order', eg, price lists, sales strategies, new product strategies.

Recovery rates low

The insurance industry shows that the recovery rates are extremely low, and that this, coupled with inadequate claim-to-premium ratios, is the cause of the high (and escalating) premiums for PC/laptops. As highlighted in the recently published crime statistics, the SA Police Services are focusing on reducing serious crimes, and, much as they would like to, not on recovering lost or stolen IT equipment.

Whilst on the subject of statistics, it has been shown internationally that over 80% of all computer theft and fraud has 'insider' participation, so that even if you have installed some or other form of asset tracking (and location) solution, you will become a statistic. In addition, the perpetrators will remain undetected, and free to repeat their activities when your equipment is replaced.

The solution is twofold, firstly, to increase the recovery rates for stolen hardware, software and data (intellectual capital), and secondly, to reduce the incidence of insider collusion by providing adequate deterrents.

By increasing the recovery rates, organisations will reduce the costs of insurance (or replacement if self-insured), as well as the costs of re-creating the data from scratch - yes you have a backup policy, but is it enforced? The latter costs are in most instances as much as ten times or more of the cost of the replacement equipment.

When the recovery rate increase is allied with the apprehension (and conviction) of the perpetrators, there is a dramatic drop (and often a complete disappearance of) insider collusion.

Recovery services

Whilst there are a number of local companies offering the monitoring and tracking components, only one, Nemesys, offers the comprehensive recovery service. The service has been developed in conjunction with the SA Police Service and Telkom, and includes the provision of forensic evidence to ensure the conviction. Nemesys will also present this evidence in court on behalf of the prosecution. Nemesys is currently monitoring more than 1000 PCs/Laptops in South Africa (both individuals and enterprises) and is being evaluated by a number of schools and public sector organisations, as well as PC rental companies.

The software is available for a once-off charge, and the recovery service for a nominal monthly charge per PC.

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