24 Jun 2009

Data security 'a growing concern for firms'

Businesses are beginning to view data security as a more important issue following the onset of recession, it has been claimed.

While companies are cutting back on IT budgets at present, many are actually increasing the amount they spend on confidential information protection, Gartner security analyst Adam Hills noted.

"If both of those hold true throughout the year, then it's clear that security spending will end up comprising a larger portion of the total IT budget [than in 2008]," Mr Hill noted.

He added that security decisions are now being recognised as integral to ongoing business profitability and productivity.

Meanwhile, Laura DuBois, research director for storage software at IDC, recently argued that while businesses are putting IT spending on the backburner, it is important to remember that business continuity is paramount.

As a result, Ms DuBois advised firms to consider taking on outsourced hosted exchange providers to help reduce costs, but maintain efficiency.