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Why isn't data encryption the norm?

<p>The TSA recently <cnet:link externalURL="http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2199122,00.asp">demanded data encryption</cnet:link> on all contractor laptops as two machines containing personal data of 3,930 truckers who handle hazardous material were l

Dave Rosenberg Co-founder, MuleSource
Dave Rosenberg has more than 15 years of technology and marketing experience that spans from Bell Labs to startup IPOs to open-source and cloud software companies. He is CEO and founder of Nodeable, co-founder of MuleSoft, and managing director for Hardy Way. He is an adviser to DataStax, IT Database, and Puppet Labs.
Dave Rosenberg

The TSA recently demanded data encryption on all contractor laptops as two machines containing personal data of 3,930 truckers who handle hazardous material were lost or stolen.

This made me wonder why more attention and more startups aren't trying to come up with easier ways to safeguard data. My initial guess is that the data problem is more about users than it is hardware.

As I searched for information on this I came across a few things of note:
  • Windows, MacOS and Linux all have encryption capabilities, but none do so by default.
  • There are quite a few companies I've never heard of that do Hard Disk Encryption (WinMagic and GuardianEdge seem to be the biggest advertisers)
  • There are several products that address the stolen/lost data problem, including Beachhead Solutions and VigilSoftware

The thing that I couldn't find why was this isn't a bigger issue. I know that I wrote about it awhile back.

Any ideas?