The theft of a laptop containing security arrangements for this week's Labour Party Conference, and next month's Conservative Party Conference, highlights the need for data encryption, a security vendor has warned.

Lynton Stewart-Ashley, channel director for UK and EMEA at security firm GuardianEdge, said: "Carrying company or organisational data outside the office is like playing Russian roulette, but adding hard disk encryption removes the bullets from the chamber."

Hard disk encryption systems secure against the loss of data on laptop drives. Once encrypted the data is rendered inaccessible, protecting confidential information.