IT Professionals Step Up Security Protection

By Gina Roos | Posted 2015-12-31

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IT Professionals Step Up Security Protection

In a new survey, a little more than seven in 10 IT pros expect their firms to be more secure in 2016. Their biggest concerns are malware and ransomware.
Biggest Security Concerns

54% are very or extremely concerned about malware in 2016, followed by ransomware (53%), phishing (46%), data leaks/thefts (39%), spyware (38%) and password breaches (37%).
Actual Threats

51% said their organizations experienced a malware attack in 2015, followed by phishing (38%), spyware (34%), ransomware (20%) and password breaches (12%). Only 18% experienced no threats or attacks.
Vulnerable Devices

81% pointed to laptops as the devices with a moderate or high risk of breach, followed by desktops (73%), smartphones (70%), servers/server rooms (49%), IoT devices (49%), wireless access points (47%), tablets (42%), and routers/switches (38%).
In the Shadows

48% of respondents believe that shadow IT poses a security threat to the organization.
Who's the Biggest Threat?

49% believe independent hackers were the biggest threat in 2015, followed by rogue employees (36%), organized crime (25%), cyber-terrorists (12%) and hacktivists (10%).
Threat Protection

76% said they update hardware/software to protect against threats, enforce end-user policies (73%), educate end users (72%), restrict or manage access to corporate resources (69%), learn about new risks/threats (66%), monitor network activity/identify patterns (61%), evaluate new/additional solutions (60%) and restrict BYOD (52%).
Policies Count

86% of respondents have an end-user initiative in place, and 68% have a formal IT security policy.
Top Security Challenges

69% said limited end-user knowledge regarding risk/security is one of their biggest security challenges, followed by end-user resistance (57%), lack of time/resources to secure networks (54%), inadequate budget for security solutions (46%), limited knowledge about potential threats (35%) and lack of support from management for security initiatives (32%).
Making Investments

84% of respondents expect security investments to increase in at least one area, with 71% expecting their organizations to be more secure in 2016.
Taking Responsibility

87% said they are most responsible for keeping organizations safe, but noted that everyone, including individual employees (43%) and high-level executives (41%), has a role to play.
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With eight in 10 organizations experiencing IT security incidents in 2015, IT professionals are becoming more proactive about preventing them, according to a new Spiceworks survey of nearly 200 IT pros. By implementing measures ranging from educating employees about risks to investing in more security solutions, a little more than seven in 10 survey respondents expect their organizations to be more secure in 2016. The study, "Battling the Big Hack," also reveals that IT pros are gearing up for external security threats next year. However, the survey reveals a disconnect between what they perceive as their biggest IT security threats versus the actual threats. For example, little more than half said ransomware is a top concern in 2016, but only one-fifth of organizations experienced a ransomware incident this year. To combat these threats, IT teams are investing in sophisticated security solutions, such as those for battling advanced persistent threats. Here are survey takeaways that point to revenue opportunities for the channel.

Gina Roos is a business and technology writer who has contributed print and Web articles to leading electronic industry publications. She was Editor-in-Chief at Electronics Sourcing North America, and served as Site Editor for UBM's Green SupplyLine and Electronics Supply & Manufacturing Websites. She also authored the "In the Channel" column, covering the electronics distribution industry for EETimes ProductWeek. Gina was the founder and editor of Electronics Advocate, an online magazine covering design and supply chain issues in the electronics industry. The publication was sold to MMG Publishing UK in 2010. Gina has a degree in journalism.

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IT Professionals Step Up Security Protection

IT Professionals Step Up Security Protection

Biggest Security Concerns

Actual Threats

Vulnerable Devices

In the Shadows

Who's the Biggest Threat?

Threat Protection

Policies Count

Top Security Challenges

Making Investments

Taking Responsibility

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