A care provider which lost a computer memory stick containing information relating to over 100 Isle of Man residents says it will encrypt personal data on all such devices from now on.

Praxis Care breached the Isle of Man and United Kingdom data protection acts when it failed to keep the data secure.

An unencrypted memory stick, containing personal information relating to 107 Isle of Man residents and 53 individuals from Northern Ireland, was lost on the Island in August last year.

The device wasn't recovered and Praxis Care acknowledged that its loss caused a great deal of concern for those whose details were on it.

The company now says it is committed to making sure that all portable devices used to store personal data are encrypted. It adds that any personal information which is no longer needed will be disposed of securely, in line with its updated data security guidance.

The United Kingdom's information commissioner has said: 'Carrying people's personal information around on an unencrypted memory stick is clearly unacceptable. The fact that some of the personal details stored on the device were out of date, and so surplus to requirements, makes this breach all the more concerning'.

Isle of Man data protection supervisor Iain McDonald says that sends a clear message to organisations that a lax attitude to data security will not be tolerated.