An increasingly mobile workforce, social networking and a shift to cloud computing are viewed as significant threats to organizations’ security, according to an annual information security survey conducted by Ernst & Young.
The report, titled Borderless Security, indicates that while there is a commitment to protecting data, many organizations remained concerned about their ability to face advanced, persistent threats against their corporate infrastructures.
“The combination of more mobility, increased social access to information and outsourcing to the cloud requires a change in traditional information security paradigms,” says Jose Granado, security practice leader for Ernst & Young’s Americas practice. “The ‘outsiders are now the insiders,’ meaning people and organizations outside the borders of the traditional corporate environment play a role in helping to achieve information security objectives, but can also pose a risk to protecting your information.”
The report, based on a survey of 1,600 senior executives in 56 countries, found that 60% perceive increased risk from the use of cloud computing, social networking and personal mobile devices at work. Additionally 64% of respondents see data protection as one of the top IT risks in the current environment.
The good news is that organizations recognize the risks that come with emerging technology trends like cloud computing and are taking action to protect their data with stronger security programs. In fact, half those surveyed plan to increase their spending on data leakage/data loss prevention over the next year.
And despite concerns, 45% of those surveyed are currently using, evaluating or planning to use cloud computing services within the next 12 months.
