As much as most IT managers wish otherwise, security remains a top concern of most departments. According to a recent survey commissioned by GFI (www.gfi.com) of senior executives and IT managers at more than 450 small to midsized enterprises, security and system downtime are their top daily concerns, with 71% of respondents mentioning both.
It comes as no surprise that the overwhelming majority have already implemented the basics, with more than 80% using antivirus and antispam software and network firewalls. Despite having the technology in place, 42% do not consider their networks to be secure. What’s a poor CIO to do? Almost half spend more than 10% of their IT budget on security, leading many to question whether throwing more technology at the problem is an effective strategy. GFI’s survey does offer some hope; it indicates increased end-user security awareness. Almost half of the managers surveyed agreed that “better awareness on security among employees would improve the level of security,” indicating that security training may be a more cost-effective solution. While another survey of user behavior by RSA has some harrowing statistics–8% reported losing a laptop or portable storage device containing corporate information–it’s a mistake to conclude users aren’t concerned with security. Processor Editorial Article - Tips For Improving Users’ Security Awareness
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