Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been urged to ensure their IT equipment is protected against theft.

According to security firm Wick Hill, ensuring the security of data is important as SMEs are responsible for any personal information held on computers under the provisions of the Data Protection Act.

"With the ever-increasing use of laptops out of the office [and] their vulnerability to theft . it is time for companies to take the leap to securing laptops," said Ian Kilpatrick chairman of Wick Hill.

"By doing so, they not only protect key data from potential exposure, but also meet their regulatory obligations," he added.

Should information be lost or stolen, in addition to financial sanctions, there is a risk that the event could damage the reputation of the business.

Indeed, the Nationwide Building Society was recently fined £980,000 following the theft of a company laptop.