24 Nov 2009

Public outcry 'making firms take security seriously'

The growth in public concern following the publication of high profile data loss incidents has prompted more firms to take data security seriously, it has been claimed.

David Emms, senior security researcher for the global research and analysis team at Kaspersky, said the publicity garnered from these incidents has led to a reduction in reputation for those involved and this is something other businesses are keen to avoid.

He commented: "[Data security] does need more attention, but it is becoming a very well publicised issue. The most immediate consequence of a loss of data would be embarrassment and loss of reputation for the organisation itself."

According to research carried out by data protection and information security company the Ponemon Institute, 49 per cent of individuals surveyed said data security is not a strategic initiative for their companies.

Indeed, 47 per cent of individuals cited a lack of strong chief executive officer support for information security efforts as a reason for ineffective data security programs.