news 5
41% of professionals carry sensitive data unprotected
A survey has revealed that 41% of a supposedly security-aware audience are carrying sensitive information on mobile devices unprotected, leaving large numbers of organisations prime targets for information thieves.
The study among IT security professionals at this year’s Infosecurity Europe show, conducted by Basingstoke-based secure storage specialist Origin Storage, reveals that 19% of respondents said that their organisation had suffered a data breach following the loss of a portable device such as a laptop, USB or CD, with 54% confessing that the device had not been encrypted – an offence under the Data Protection Act and subject to regulatory action by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
With 70% of organisations making data encryption mandatory, 11% of those respondents carrying sensitive information unprotected are actually breaching their organisation’s data protection efforts, while the other 30% are simply following their organisations’ woefully inadequate example. When digging a little deeper, the study uncovered a staggering 37% of respondents who confessed that between 81 and 100% of all sensitive data stored on their device(s) was actually left unprotected – not just one or two documents transferred in a hurry.
Andy Cordial, managing director of Origin Storage, explained: ”When you consider the level of knowledge this audience is assumed to have, working in IT and having some form of security remit, yet the lax protection used for sensitive data, it’s hardly surprising data breaches are increasing in frequency and, especially recently, in size. I’m astounded that 30% of organisations are still oblivious to the Data Protection Act and the recommendation from the information commissioner that encryption be used to protect sensitive information.”
The problem of sensitive data isn’t restricted to any particular device, with 67% of respondents using laptops, 52% using USBs, 33% still relying on CDs and 52% using another form of portable storage device.
CLARIFICATION
Page 5 of last month’s issue of The Business Magazine featured an article headed ”Work begins on Marine Centre of Excellence”. The wording should in fact have read the ”Maritime Centre of Excellence”.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – JUNE 2011
A final startling revelation is that just 36% of visitors felt that Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) certification is ’a must’ for encryption technology.
Cordial concluded: ”The ICO recommends any solution should meet FIPS 140-2 yet 31% of our sample flippantly state that it ’doesn’t matter’. Certification is the only ’proof’ that the product actually does what the company ’claims’ it does. It’s not just me saying this because our products have the certification as there have been incidences where products have fundamental design problems, or even companies that have made false claims. My advice – don’t leave security to chance. Lock it down with something that’s actually proven to work or there is a strong possibility you’ll be crying over spilled data.”
Details:
www.originstorage.com Web lines
Southampton: Scientist invents file transfer solution
A new way to send large files around the Web free of charge has been launched by the University of Southampton ...
Portsmouth: Regional supply chain launch
An ambitious bid to build a complete regional supply chain for the production of electric vehicles is the focus of the first event of its kind in the south ...
Solent: International business alliance formed
A brand new business alliance has been established in the Solent to strengthen trade links internationally ...
South: Altitude Partners in first close of £15m fund
Altitude Partners LLP fund has exceeded its initial target of £7 million and is well on its way to a £15m final close ...
Portsmouth: Ramora sold out of administration
A Portsmouth explosives disposal firm, hit by work in Libya failing to materialise, has been sold out of administration ...
South East: Penningtons merges with Dawsons
Penningtons Solicitors LLP and Dawsons Solicitors have finalised the terms of a merger of their practices ...
To read these stories in full visit:
www.businessmag.co.uk
Business park schemed for Isle of Wight
Southampton planning and urban design consultancy Turley Associates, acting for the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), has secured outline planning permission for a new business park on the Isle of Wight.
The Island Technology Park will be located at Whippingham, on the outskirts of East Cowes, and will consist of four hectares of office industrial and warehousing. Some initial site preparation and structural landscaping works have already been instigated.
Peter Cusdin, for SEEDA, commented: ”This is an exciting project for SEEDA and for the
Isle of Wight. SEEDA has played an active role in support of economic activity on the Island. The Island Technology Park makes an important contribution to the island’s supply of employment land and is already generating substantial interest.”
Added John O’Donovan, director in the Southampton office of Turley Associates: ”This permission removes the planning risk for businesses looking for new premises on the Island. It will offer businesses the opportunity to create premises that suit their specific needs within a dedicated technology park.”
www.businessmag.co.uk
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