Few business travellers take trips without at least one mobile device, whether it be a laptop, notebook, tablet or smartphone.

However, the rising value of these devices and their increased portability is making them easier to lose – and have stolen – than ever before.

The loss of business data that can accompany the loss of a business device can be crippling, particularly for SMBs that are less likely to be backed up or have means of recovery, according to Lloyd Borrett, ‘Security Evangelist’ for AVG.

"Business trips are meant to be productive,” Borrett says.

"Losing a smartphone, laptop or tablet computer can turn that business opportunity into a frustrating, stressful and costly exercise.

"Most mobile devices are packed with valuable, often confidential, potentially irreplaceable business information.”

Borrett says the most frequent locations at which people lose devices are security check-in points, aeroplane chair pockets, and baggage pick-up areas. Losses at gate lounges, restrooms and food courts are also common.

Business travellers can protect themselves from device loss by doing the basics, Borrett adds – keeping an eye on the device, backing up information regularly, using in-built password locks, and labelling devices so that they can be returned if found.