Irish companies ignore security risks

Pro

1 April 2005

Despite a rise in the number of attacks on company’s computer networks, most small and medium sized enterprises in Ireland are content with their current level of IT security says a new survey, carried out by the Institute of International Trade of Ireland and co-sponsored by Post.Trust.

According to the survey, as many as 70 percent of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) claim to be happy with their IT security arrangements, despite the fact that nearly every company surveyed, relied almost exclusively on anti-virus software to protect them. In fact, the survey shows that most Irish firms believe that the greatest threats to their business were from viruses, then hackers and finally, their own employees. The survey also reveals that three quarters of Irish companies only spend between zero and eight percent of their IT budget on security. 

Donal Sullivan, eBusiness manager for Post.Trust. suggests that the survey results are worrying. ‘These findings are alarming when one considers the fact that reported computer security incidents increased by 200 percent in 2001,’ said Sullivan. ‘Too many companies are confusing anti-virus protection with security and their complacency shows. Almost 99 percent of e-mail traffic travels across the Internet unsecured and can be readily accessed by competitors, hackers or disgruntled employees.’ 

www.post.trust.ie

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