Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cybersecurity
    • Cybersecurity
    • IT Management

    IT Pros Say They Cant Stop Data Breaches

    Written by

    Deborah Rothberg
    Published August 30, 2006
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      In the wake of widely publicized security compromises at AOL and AT&T, a study released Aug. 28 by the Elk Rapids, Mich.-based privacy management research company Ponemon Institute finds that only 37 percent of IT professionals believe their company is effective at detecting data breaches.

      Citing a lack of resources and high product costs as barriers to preventing data leakage, respondents were uncertain about their companys ability to discover breaches of confidential information. Only 43 percent believed that their company would detect a large breach (involving more than 10,000 customer records) more than 80 percent of the time. 17 percent of respondents felt their company would correctly detect a small data breach (involving less than 100 customer records) more than 80 percent of the time.

      “Weve gotten pretty good at protecting from spam and viruses. But, when you rob a bank, you go for the money, and thats the data. Companies are beginning to shift their priorities away from the perimeter and onto the information content,” said Gordon Rapkin, president and CEO of Protegrity, a Stamford, Conn.-based provider of enterprise security management solutions.

      /zimages/3/28571.gifClick here to read more about the security breach at AT&T.

      Respondents viewed the loss or theft of customer or consumer data as the second most detrimental data breach, even if privacy laws required notification, diminishing brand, reputation and customer confidence, and making the incident a public event. The loss or theft of intellectual property came in first in terms of risk, reputations and cost to the organization.

      Rapkin attributes many of the recent data breaches to what he calls our “Culture of Security.”

      “People just dont get it. If you think about our IT culture, you wouldnt think of putting together a PC today without anti-virus software or a network without a firewall, but we still think we can create a database and not protect it. This is where the culture hasnt matured; were protecting everything but the data, and we need a cultural shift.”

      Though 66 percent of respondents reported the use of technologies to help their organizations manage the leakage of sensitive or confidential information, cost was the primary reason cited why organizations would not use these technologies. Thirty-five percent felt that they were too expensive, 16 percent felt manual procedures were adequate, 16 percent felt that their organizations were not vulnerable to breaches and 12 percent criticized existing technology-based data for having too high of a false positive rate.

      “Its interesting that they claim cost as a reason theyre not taking greater precautions. An earlier Poneman study found that the average data breach cost $13 million, and I estimate that this AT&T one will cost way more. Companies are still thinking its not going to happen to me, worrying about protection and not prevention,” said Rapkin.

      Many respondents believed that their organizations did not have the right leadership structure or enough resources to properly enforce compliance. Forty-one percent believed that their organization was not effective at enforcing compliance with their organizations data protection policies and procedures.

      Editors Note: This story was updated to include comments from analysts.

      /zimages/3/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest security news, reviews and analysis. And for insights on security coverage around the Web, take a look at eWEEK.com Security Center Editor Larry Seltzers Weblog.

      Deborah Rothberg
      Deborah Rothberg

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×