10 Top tips to keep laptops or tablets safe during air travel.
According to SITA's 2023 Baggage IT Insights report, the rate of mishandled luggage increased by 75% in 2022 compared to 2021, which is the highest rate since 2012. Some of the 26 million mishandled bags were either lost, damaged, or delayed. Though the air travel industry claim they are improving baggage handling operations, the surprise surge of mishandled baggage should alarm travelers, digital nomads, remote workers, and business leaders like Board Directors, CEOs, and COOs and demonstrate the need to ensure laptops or tablets, especially devices used for work should always be stored in carry on bags all times when traveling by air.
Why should travelers, digital nomads, remote workers, and senior Business Leaders take note of the report? From my experience as an Information Security and Privacy Consultant and Co-Founder of Hyplon Security performing audits and establishing and implementing information security strategies and programs for private enterprises and government agencies, I see too often cyber security is looked as as an internal issue mainly focused on technology, but should really also consider outside of your organisation as well as outside of homes. As laptops and tablets are used for work, connecting with family and friends through social media and communication apps, conducting online banking, etc. these devices are critical productivity tools as they often contain sensitive data or proprietary information. The report from SITA should emphasise the importance of always packing laptops or tablets in cabin baggage, never check in luggage. Now that bag is one of the 26 million mishandled bags, what would be the impact for your business?
Data breaches - Checked bags are out of sight and control, making them vulnerable to theft or tampering whether domestic or international travel. Someone with criminal intent could easily swipe a laptop or tablet without too much effort as standard luggage cases aren't too hard to break into. Now image your bag is returned and you open it to find the laptop or tablet stolen.
Physical Damage - Baggage handlers and automated systems can inadvertently damage laptops. Even though some devices are built to withstand some wear and tear, the device lifespan can be shortened or the device rendered unusable altogether due to the rough handling from automated systems or baggage handlers. Remember, baggage handlers and automated systems are just there to ensure checked in bags are on the plane, and some collateral damage along the way cannot be avoided.
Loss of Productivity - If luggage is delayed or lost, remote workers, business leaders, or digital nomads can't work effectively, may be unable to meet deadlines or attend that important client meeting as they spend time trying to recover their checked in luggage. If the device is for personal use, then it will disrupt any plans once landed which could lead to delays on getting to that important event or meeting or the next stage of a restricted travel itinerary.
Remember, checked in luggage gets opened, scanned, stacked, searched, smashed, and tossed around - fragile, expensive personal and work laptops or tablets are not built for that kind of abuse!
Image from Nicole Kylie & Simple Flying Staff
Another hidden danger of air travel that has been reported many times is travelers, employees, or business leaders leaving laptops or tablets in airport security checkpoint bins only to realise once in the air or having landed that the device was missing or left behind due to distractions at the checkpoint.
Image from Nicole Kylie & Simple Flying Staff
Top tips to keep laptops and tablets safe during air travel:
Always store Laptops or tablets in carry on luggage, never checked in, especially of the device is used for work.
Use a carry on bags that helps make security checks easy. Wheeled bags are perfect for safely transporting laptops without putting strain on your back and most have dedicated compartments for devices for easy removal at security checkpoints.
Ensure devices used for work purposes have hard drive encryption enabled and can be remote swiped by the technical team.
I encouraged everyone to backup data to cloud storage before any trips, so in the event your bag is lost, damaged, or delayed and you need your device for meetings, work, or other important situations, you could still access the data from other available device due to data being available in the cloud.
A must and should be a non-negotiable is PIN and password protect devices that will be taken on air travel.
Ensure travel insurance is taken out before departure and that the insurance covers the work laptop or tablet. This is a must If the travel is for work purpose.
For Business Leaders like CEO’s, Directors, COO’s please craft a travel policy that clearly communicates that work laptops or tablets must always be carried in carry on luggage and that it isn't negotiable.
Engrave labels on laptops, tablets and work phones including your name or company name and phone number and place some sort of identity sticker on the device. Having these details will make it easier for you to recover the device from the lost and found department of an airport or with airlines.
Put devices in the first bin at security checkpoints followed by the carry on bag in the final bin, behind all other items. That way, you will remove the loose items and not miss them as you wait for your carry on bag.
Do not to put devices in the seat pockets of an airplane unless your carry on bag had to be checked in. Putting devices in the seat pocket could result in leaving the device behind and sometimes these pockets are not cleaned well.
Additional tip for business owners with employees who travel for work.
Simply having a policy and a employee guidebook outlining best practices is only as good as its implementation. Actively educate employees by sending out reminders before their trips to enforce travel security practices, incorporate real-life scenarios into cyber safety training to make them engaging and memorable, and include device security in travel briefings to ensure everyone is on the same page. Most important, ensure your employee knows what to do in the event the work laptop or tablet is stolen, damaged or lost and that they understand the organisation incident reporting procedure.
The Risks are Real!
The statistics addressed in the SITA report underscore the importance of keeping laptops and tablets in carry-on baggage and considering there is still a risk of devices being stolen, lost or damaged. So, the next time you take a vacation and need to travel by air, your employee takes a business trip or takes their work laptop or tablet on vacation with them if traveling by air, remember laptops or tablets are more than just a tool - it's a critical asset that contains sensitive company data especially if used for work.
What security measures can you take to ensure your laptop or tablet are secured during air travel?
Image from StuDempster. A technical malfunction caused a luggage pile up at Heathrow Airport 17 June 2022 resulting in passengers flying without their luggage with no guarantee they saw their bag again.
