Almost half of all organisations vulnerable to insider threats
Computing research suggests employees' lack of understanding of data security issues is largely to blame
Just under half of all organisations are currently highly vulnerable to security threats posed by insiders.
That's one of the findings of Computing's latest research into security trends, the full results of which will be discussed in our upcoming webinar 'Tackling insider threats without becoming Big Brother'.
When asked if they believed that their organisations were currently vulnerable to insider threats, 45 per cent answered yes. Asked for the likely reasons behind the threat from insiders, 83 per cent of respondents cited a lack of understanding among employees of data security issues.
The next most popular response was 'Increasing use of personal mobile devices both on and off network', with 63 per cent, and 'Increasing pressure on staff to deliver leading to more out of hours work' with 43 per cent of the vote (respondents could select multiple answers).
While some organisations seek to protect themselves against insider threats by locking down both tools and data, that can lead to inefficient processes and lost employee time.
It can also result in privacy infringements. Fifty per cent of respondents declared themselves to be somewhat concerned about the privacy of their personal data in the workplace, with 22 per cent very concerned.
And when asked: 'Are you confident that you have got the right balance in place between security/compliance and employee privacy?', only nine per cent answered positively, with most indicating that the balance is ever changing.
A deeper dive into broader security trends will be revealed at the Enterprise and Risk Management Summit 2016. Attendance is free to qualified end users.