Survey Finds Careless Employees Feared Top Security Threat
by Mel Duvall
The economic recession is clearly creating anxiety among IT professionals over the threat posed by fired or disgruntled employees. However, a poll conducted in the month of February by CIOZone found that risks posed by careless employees are still deemed the No. 1 security threat.
CIOZone asked its members, What is the biggest threat to your company’s computer and information security? Respondents were asked to choose from the following list: Hackers; Malware and viruses; Poorly coded Web applications; Insecure wireless connections; Careless employees; Disgruntled or fired employees; and Lost or stolen laptops.
Our poll received a total of 66 votes. Here are the results in descending priority with voting percentages.
1. Careless employees—27.6%
2. Disgruntled or fired employees—21.2%
3. Poorly coded Web applications—18.2%
4. Malware and viruses—16.7%
5. Hackers—9.1%
6. Insecure wireless connections—4.5%
7. Lost or stolen laptops—3%
Michael Menefee, principal consultant with WireHead Security in Raleigh, N.C., says normally disgruntled or fired employees wouldn’t appear so high on the security threat list. Obviously the economy and several high profile reports of disgruntled employees sabotaging company networks has raised awareness.
"I think the results somewhat mirror what people have been reading about in the press lately," says Menefee. "Also, with something like careless employees, that has a high awareness because it is something people have likely seen or experienced."
For his part, Menefee says he is most concerned about the threat posed by poorly coded Web applications, and feels that it may be a ticking time bomb. In fact, over the next year he expects the topic will gain more prominence as hackers begin to exploit numerous gaps in Web application security. See his recent blog on the topic.
But overall, he says there is no right or wrong answer to the question. "The bottom line is they're all very real threats," he says.
In the month of March, CIOZone will be conducting a poll on mobile computing trends in conjunction with a Special Report. Is the most important advancement the iPhone and the Apple App store, or a competing app store to be launched this month by BlackBerry maker Research in Motion? Or perhaps it has more to do with wireless infrastructure and coming 4G communications. Take the poll and cast your vote.
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Featured Blogger Mel Duvall with co-blogger John McCormick
Mel is the Chief Content Officer of the CIOZone. He is a veteran journalist, having written and edited for daily newspapers, magazines and trade publications for more than 20 years. He is a former senior editor of Baseline magazine and was a senior editor for Inter@ctive Week. Mel has won several awards at the national level, including a Jesse H. Neal journalism award and American Society of Business Publication Editors awards.
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