Most IT workers and other office staff blame their employer for data losses, it has been reported.

The survey from Tumbleweed Communications found only around one in five IT professionals said they would blame an individual for leaving their laptop on a train, according to cbronline.com.

More than two-thirds of the 100 IT workers and 1,000 office workers questioned apportioned blame to their employer or chief executive officer for such a situation.

According to the website, Craig Whitney of Tumbleweed suggested that firms may take greater responsibility for the issue if UK laws were brought into line with legislation in the US, where companies are required to make an immediate public announcement following a case of data loss.

He continued: "The UK needs to adopt similar, more stringent regulations, so that companies pay more attention to sending sensitive and confidential information securely."

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office recently stated that it has fallen victim to five significant incidents of data loss this year, ComputerWeekly.com reported.

As a result of breaches to its computer network, it revealed a total of 188 sets of personal details were lost.

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