Study: 90 percent of companies suffered data breaches in last year
Data breaches have become a near-inevitability for many companies.
Highlighting the need for greater data security practices across industries, a new study from the Ponemon Institute found that 90 percent of polled businesses have suffered at least one data breach within the past 12 months.
In a survey of IT and IT security professionals from the United States, the study found that the complexity of implementing network security solutions was one of the biggest challenges for IT departments, cited 48 percent of respondents.
Additionally, 48 percent of respondents also cited resource constraints as one of their greatest issues when developing data protection strategies.
"Our survey research provides evidence that many organizations are ill-equipped to prevent cyber attacks against networks and enterprise systems," said Ponemon Institute founder and chairman Larry Ponemon.
The survey identified mobile devices as one of the main causes of concern when it comes to data security. Employee-owned devices and laptops, in particular, were cited as the endpoints most likely to result in a data breach.
Security concerns with mobile devices have been increasing in recent years, especially with the growth of smartphones and media tablets. While these devices may provide numerous productivity and efficiency improvements, developing security policies around them has proven to be a challenge for many companies.
There are a number of steps a company can take to bolster mobile cybersecurity. Data encryption has proven to be a popular solution for many businesses, as it enables IT security professionals to monitor and control access to certain information. Additionally, companies have found remote locking and memory wiping can ensure data doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
However, according to media consultant Amy Gahran, another approach that helps protect companies is simply developing good habits.
"Fortunately, protecting yourself against mobile security risks doesn't require getting paranoid about your phone," Gahran recently wrote for CNN.com. "Rather, it's about maintaining good habits, watching for red flags and deciding whether you need mobile security tools or services."
Spotlight
Cloud Computing
- Cloud security group develops third-party certification program
- US makes large investment in cyber weaponry
- Wall Street has data security concerns over Bloomberg reporting
- Security in backups means more than just encryption
Virtualization
- Virtualization-specific challenges could threaten data security
- Evolving threats put security skills in high demand
- Virtualization security requires education, access control management
- Tips for launching effective virtual security tools
Internet Safety
- Virtualization-specific challenges could threaten data security
- Evolving threats put security skills in high demand
- Virtualization security requires education, access control management
- Tips for launching effective virtual security tools
Vulnerabilities & Exploits
CTO Insights
First Line of Defense
Newsletter
Stay up to date with the latest news and information on online threats.
Recent News
- DHS needs better sharing plan, experts say
- Cloud security group develops third-party certification program
- US makes large investment in cyber weaponry
- SEC may ask for more information after cyberattacks
Tag Cloud
cloud cloud computing cloud computing security Cloud Security Compliance & Regulations Consumerization Current News cybercrime Data Privacy data security Encryption Government Policy Internet Protection Internet Safety Internet Safety - DO NOT USE Internet Security Malware Mobile Security Mobility Policy Policy - DO NOT USE Privacy Privacy & Policy Private Cloud Public Cloud Reports Research Spotlight threat intelligence threat research Trend Labs Underground Economy virtualization Vulnerabilities Vulnerabilities - DO NOT USE web security web threats
Comments
[...] likelihood of a security breach impacting companies. As a separate Ponemon Institute study found, 90 percent of surveyed companies polled indicated they had experienced a data security incident in the last 12 [...]
Pingback by Study: Businesses underestimating costs of security breaches | Simply Security on August 8, 2011 at 9:22 am
[...] a July study released by the Ponemon Institute found that 90 percent of all responding companies had experienced a data breach in the past year. [...]
Pingback by Yale cleaning up, informing victims of accidental data breach | Simply Security on August 31, 2011 at 1:21 pm
[...] released earlier this year by the Ponemon Institute estimated that 90 percent of companies have suffered some form of security breach in the last year. This seems to indicate that data breaches are all but [...]
Pingback by Despite breaches, companies failing to take action | Simply Security on September 13, 2011 at 10:10 am
[...] security policies can suffer an unexpected data breach. As this site has reported before, more than 90 percent of all businesses suffer some form of security breach, meaning that data protection failures are [...]
Pingback by Reactive measures important when cyber attack hits | Simply Security on September 22, 2011 at 2:42 pm