Roger Baker razzes reporters on lost BlackBerrys

Roger Baker, assistant secretary for information and technology at the Veterans Affairs Department, takes questions each month from reporters on a broad array of information security concerns at the VA. The VA publishes a monthly report to Congress on all data breaches.

The topic of lost and stolen BlackBerrys comes up regularly during the calls. From June through August, 49 of the handheld devices were reported lost or stolen at the VA.

In the Sept 17 conference call with reporters, Baker turned the tables, telling the reporters that if one of them ever loses a BlackBerry, “we will spend 15 minutes on the conference call talking about how that happened.”

Baker also explained how the VA is working to ensure security on privately operated websites and on other IT tools used by medical residents affiliated with the VA. The department finds it more effective to incorporate the innovative tools developed in the private sector, rather than trying to develop similar tools on its own, he said.

“We are the government. Innovation is not our norm,” Baker said.