12 Feb 2009

Firms 'should increase security'

Businesses can do more to protect sensitive data, an industry expert asserts.

Security specialist BeCrypt recently conducted a survey which revealed 50 per cent of councils are now employing measures to tackle the threat of data theft in comparison to ten per cent a year ago.

Chief executive of the company Bernard Parsons believes results from the poll represent a "marked improvement" in the consideration of loss prevention.

He explains: "Changes in policy over the last 12 months have had a very real affect on attitudes and thinking across local authorities and police forces and we expect this to continue."

There must be a balancing act between security and usability, though for many firms there is still much to be done, Mr Parsons adds.

Further findings from the survey reveal that 80 per cent of police authorities are now paying close attention to the management of portable devices such as USB sticks.

Security firm Steganos recently conducted a poll which found nearly a third of people had lost a USB stick in the past.