IBM bans all removable storage, for all staff, everywhere

[Arthur]

IBM bans all removable storage, for all staff, everywhere

 

IBM has banned its staff from using removable storage devices.

 

In an advisory to employees, IBM global chief Information security officer Shamla Naidoo said the company “is expanding the practise of prohibiting data transfer to all removable portable storage devices (eg: USB, SD card, flash drive).”

 

The advisory stated some pockets of IBM have had this policy for a while, but “over the next few weeks we are implementing this policy worldwide.”

 

Big Blue’s doing this because “the possible financial and reputational damage from misplaced, lost or misused removable portable storage devices must be minimised.”

 

IBMers are advised to use Big Blue’s preferred sync ‘n’ share service to move data around.

 

But the advisory also admitted that the move may be “disruptive for some.”