The report, which surveyed 100 IT managers and 1000 employees from enterprises and small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in July 2011, found that laptops were the main target, with 45 per cent of respondents reporting a loss in 2011. Only 34 per cent of these managers reported a theft in 2010.

According to the results, an average of 2.2 laptops were lost or stolen from each company per year at an average cost of $3354 per laptop. The financial sector experienced the most laptop thefts, with 53 per cent of employees filing reports.

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However, a lax approach to laptop security was also part of the problem, with 78 per cent of the 1000 employees surveyed admitting they took their laptop out of the office, but only 72 per cent secured their device. The report also found that nine out of 10 employees were not concerned, or only slightly concerned, about thefts in the workplace.

In addition, only 63 per cent of the IT managers surveyed had a security policy in place, while 25 per cent of employees said they would be liable if they were found to be responsible for the loss or theft of a laptop.