Information stored on USB portable hard drives has been stolen
from a high-security area at the base of the Service Personnel and
Veterans Agency at RAF Innsworth, Gloucester.
The agency provides support services for around 900,000 serving
and ex-service personnel. It is unclear how many people are
affected by the theft.
The Ministry of Defence admits three disk drives were taken from
the high security area of the base. MoD Police and Gloucestershire
Police are investigating the theft.
Andrew Clarke, international senior vice-president at data
security firm Lumension Security, said, "The fact that
data has been stolen from a high security area demonstrates
that data held on a device, no matter what physical security
measures it has been subject to, can make its way out of an
organisation.
"In this case, the USB portable hard disk drives will not have
fitted easily into the pocket of the thief. Considering that USB
hard drives are the size of small shoe boxes, it is likely that the
thief will have had a reason for being inside the
organisation."