The findings of a global survey of IT leaders has reported that 56 per cent of those surveyed identified lack of awareness and mistakes by staff as a major security threat for their firm.
The threat posed by staff is second only to malware and ransomware, which was cited as a major issue by 68 per cent of chief information officers (CIOs).
Tom Bale, Business Development and Technical Director at Logicalis CI, said: “The findings closely reflect the conversations we have had and the work we have done with our Channel Islands’ customers to improve their resilience and security.”
The findings are part of the Logicalis Global CIO survey, involving more than 800 CIOs. It provides industry-specific detail about how the role of CIOs and IT departments is evolving and how our use of technology has changed.
Solutions suggested
Tom said one of the most important aspects of the study was not just the findings but the solutions suggested by those interviewed. “The focus on human error means we know that investment in training and helping staff to become a strength in your defence rather than a weakness is vital – especially as more and more businesses are using cloud-based solutions, which drive efficiency but can also make your system vulnerable to attack.
“Locking the door on attacks is virtually impossible, so investment in breach management, continuity and recovery support and solutions is a sensible precaution.
"What we do know is that the profile of attackers has changed enormously and procuring data is now a massive criminal enterprise rather than a malicious one. We might not be able shut them all out, but just closing a couple of doors to can save you a huge headache – as can knowing what to do when you can’t.”
The survey also covers a range of areas, from business intelligence and its use in various industry sectors to GDPR. In the main, most respondents reported that implementation of GDPR had been successful, with a good level of investment.
• For more information on the Logicalis CIO Global Survey Report click here