IT professionals admit needing to do more to protect data

While the importance of data protection is recognised by most IT leaders, a survey commissioned by security firm Code42 has revealed more than a quarter of IT decision makers (ITDMs) at UK organisations admit they need to do more to protect corporate data, Computer Weekly reports.

Having the ability to protect corporate and customer data was cited as vital or very important by almost 90% of CIOs/CISOs, 80% of ITDMs and 74% of knowledge workers.

Despite this, the 2016 Datastrophe Study found that 28% of ITDMs admit not doing enough, or not being sure whether they do enough to protect corporate data.

With the increased threat of cyber attacks, this revelation could cause concern for many organisations.

Around a third of knowledge workers believe their company may be at risk of a data breach that could go public in the course of the next year.

According to the study, those surveyed believe as much as 45% of all their company's corporate data is held on endpoint devices.

Those at the top of the IT organisation understand the serious implications and risks this poses. Loss of this data was cited as being seriously disruptive or even business destroying by 88% of CIOs/CISOs and 83% of ITDMs.

Being aware of data risk is also evident in knowledge workers, with 47% agreeing that business continuity would be threatened by corporate data loss.

However, the survey found that not having, or not knowing if they have, an endpoint data protection (backup) strategy was admitted by 30% of ITDMs.

With a rapidly changing data protection policy landscape, the study warned uncertainty around data protection strategies is no longer an option.

Almost 70% of ITDMs suggested that the upcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will impact the way they purchase and/or provision data protection and security tools/solutions, and 76% said they will put additional security measures in place.

While the mobility of data is driving the need for change, the report suggests change is starting to happen. But more than half (54%) of knowledge workers and 38% of ITDMs believe their firms should increase investment in endpoint data protection.