IT Leaders Reveal Harsh Realities of Protecting Businesses in Fortinet Global Security Survey - Seite 2

Security Concerns Rise with Emerging Technology
The rising volume/complexity of advanced persistent threats (APT), DDoS attacks and other cyber threats, and the demands of emerging technology trends like Internet-of-Things and biometrics, are the most prevalent drivers making ITDMs' jobs more challenging. There is a big expectation across industry sectors for biometrics to arrive very soon, with 46 percent claiming the technology has already landed or will do so in the next 12 months. Two-thirds say they already have the tools to ensure it can be managed securely. Of the third that doesn't feel prepared today, one-third of those believe they will struggle to secure biometrics in the future as well.

Data Privacy & Big Data Security Drive Increased Spending
The high profile issues surrounding data privacy are provoking action, with 90 percent of ITDMs planning to change their outlook on IT security strategy in response. Of these, 56 percent are inclined to invest more money and resources to address the challenge, with 44 percent preferring instead to rethink existing strategy.

Meanwhile 'Big Data' and data analytics were cited by 89 percent of respondents as a change driver for IT security strategy, with 50 percent of these planning investments.

Industry sectors with the highest predisposition to invest in IT security were financial services (53 percent) and telecoms/technology (59 percent). The research also indicated organizations of greatest size have the greatest tendency to invest.

When asked if they had been provided with sufficient human and financial resources for IT security in the last 12 months, four-out-of-five ITDMs said yes. A total of 83 percent feel they will also have sufficient resources in the next 12 months. Most industry sectors carried this trend, for example with public sector going from 74 to 77 percent and retail from 80 to 81 percent. Financial services sector ITDMs feel best equipped (87 percent for the next 12 months), though their trend is downward (89 percent for the past 12 months).

Findings Show Need for Cyber Resilience
"With IT security on the boardroom agenda, this and other challenges are clearly adding weight onto the shoulders of senior IT professionals and questioning the ability of some organizations to exploit innovation while remaining secure," said John Maddison, vice president of marketing products, at Fortinet. "These organizations must act now to address the impact of the growing threat environment and increased scrutiny on IT security, re-evaluating their goals to ensure they strike the right balance and achieve resilience in the face of cyber threats."