The Most Important Factor in the Loss of Mobile Equipment with Unencrypted Data |

C.

When mobile equipment is lost or stolen, the information contained on the equipment matters most in determining the impact of the loss.

The more sensitive the information, the greater the liability.

If staff carries mobile equipment for business purposes, an organization must develop a clear policy as to what information should be kept on the equipment and for what purpose.

Personal information is not defined in the question as the data that were lost.

Insurance may be a relatively smaller issue as compared with information theft or opportunity loss, although insurance is also an important factor for a successful business.

Cost of equipment would be a less important issue as compared with other choices.

The most important factor to consider in the loss of mobile equipment with unencrypted data would be the disclosure of personal information (option A). This is because the loss of mobile equipment such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops can potentially expose sensitive and confidential information, such as personal data, financial information, and business secrets, to unauthorized individuals. This could lead to identity theft, financial loss, reputational damage, or other negative consequences for the affected individuals or organizations.

Sufficient coverage of the insurance policy for accidental losses (option B) and replacement cost of the equipment (option D) are important factors to consider as well, but they are not the most critical in this case. Insurance coverage can help to mitigate the financial impact of the loss or damage of mobile equipment, but it cannot prevent the potential harm caused by the disclosure of sensitive information. Similarly, the replacement cost of the equipment is important, but it is secondary to the risk of data loss and should not be the primary consideration.

The intrinsic value of the data stored on the equipment (option C) is also an important factor to consider, but it is not the most important one. The value of the data depends on the type of information stored and the potential impact of its loss or exposure. However, even if the data is not highly valuable, the loss or exposure of personal information can still have serious consequences for the affected individuals.

Therefore, the disclosure of personal information is the most important factor to consider in the loss of mobile equipment with unencrypted data. To mitigate this risk, organizations should implement appropriate security measures, such as encryption, password protection, remote wipe, and regular backups, to protect sensitive information on mobile devices. They should also provide training and awareness programs for employees to promote responsible use and handling of mobile equipment, and have incident response plans in place to respond to data breaches or losses.