The second annual TMT Security Survey benchmarks IT Security in the technology, media and telecommunications industry (TMT).  The survey indicates that when it comes to security, the majority of TMT companies are managing to keep their heads above water. 

In the 12 months preceding the survey, the majority of companies successfully avoided a major security crisis, with 69% of respondents saying they are “very confident” or “extremely confident” about their organisation’s effectiveness at tackling external security challenges.
 
The most dangerous threats come from within, with 75% of companies citing “human error” as one of the root causes for security failures. News stories about the accidental loss or theft of sensitive customer data are increasingly common place, and according to the survey incidents that make the headlines are just the tip of the iceberg.

Worryingly, 36% of companies do not track losses of customer data at all. Of those that do track data losses, only 53% of companies publicly disclose their security breach, and many do so in situations where disclosure is required by law.

“The bottom line, there is a lot of work to be done,” concludes James Alexander.  “Increasing security efforts now will make all the difference when that next security threat reveals itself on the horizon.” 

Download the full 2007 TMT Security Survey (PDF, 1362kb)

Read the press release