Data security breaches caused by employees
Senior information technology executives were surveyed recently on security and privacy issues. The research has shown that such employee actions, although they are usually made unwittingly, as errors and omissions, is the main reason why data security breaches exists.
Viruses and worms, phishing and email attacks appeared to be the most popular breaches. More than a half surveyed respondents reported repeated security breaches, which were all, although unintentionally, prepared by customers. Moreover, there’s an obvious shift in priorities. Protecting sensitive data from internal threats, for example employees, is now a bigger concern than outsiders or the human factor.
Yet, as far as sensitive data protection has been widely discussed for at least last 18 months, almost every single surveyed respondent indicated increased security budgets. However, only a small part of those feel that they have appropriate skills to deal with existing security requirements. Majorities’ investment in data security is lagging behind business needs.
Two main factors that helped in boosting the budgets of security are press and government driven security regulations. Industry professionals said that no matter how hard they tried, common users should also be well informed and have competence to deal with existing security requirements. The publicity of data breaches resulted in reducing cost of security software, which was surely more expensive before such an interest in appeared.
According to searchsecurity.techtarget.com, while companies are taking action to beef up security by developing new technologies, many firms need to better educate employees to increase their security awareness.
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