Lost or stolen laptop or phone: what to do

Losing a work laptop or phone is stressful, but it does not have to become a data breach. What matters most is how quickly we hear about it. Call us on 855-248-2637 as soon as you realize it is gone, even outside working hours, and even if you think it might turn up.

What we need to know

Tell us which device it was, roughly when and where you last had it, whether it was locked with a password or PIN, and whether anyone else could have seen you unlock it. If it was stolen, report it to the police as well and keep the report number. Your insurer will usually ask for it.

What we do

We sign your accounts out of the missing device and reset your password, so nothing new can be opened from it. For phones and computers managed with Microsoft Intune, where that applies to your business, we can remove the company data or wipe the whole device remotely the next time it connects to the internet. If the drive is encrypted, as we recommend for every business laptop, the files cannot be read by someone who simply removes it. We also check whether there were any sign-ins after the device went missing.

If it turns up again

Let us know before you use it. We will check it, restore access and, if it was wiped, set it back up for you. If it was out of your hands for a while, we may suggest a fresh setup rather than taking the risk.

Reducing the risk ahead of time

Use a screen lock on every device, set it to lock after a short time, and never keep your passwords on a note in the laptop bag. Keep work files in OneDrive or SharePoint rather than only on the device, so losing the hardware does not mean losing the work. If you use your own phone for work email, our article Using your own phone for work explains how we keep business data separate.