Chanhassen, Minn. - Only 22% of companies have implemented a storage security solution, while nearly 67% believe their companies were either somewhat or extremely vulnerable to data security breaches. These are the findings of a recent survey conducted by Datalink, an independent information storage architecture firm.Regarding host security, 61% felt that their companies were either somewhat or extremely vulnerable. Whereas, 58% of respondents worried that their company's network was not as secure as it could be.
The results mirrored fears in recent headlines of customers worried about lost data tapes, missing laptops and hackers stealing customer data. Additionally, the survey results illustrated the anxiety many companies have about potential data loss and its negative consequences of customer dissatisfaction or even customer loss. In turn, these data protection concerns have many companies feeling pressure to fortify their data.
"The survey illustrated that organizations are definitely aware of data security risks. In fact, it's hard not to be with all the reports of lost data in the news recently," says Datalink CTO Scott Robinson. "Many organizations are still in the early phases of implementing a storage security strategy, especially when it comes to data encryption."
Aside from keeping customers happy and data safe, those who are exploring storage security measures cited best practices and regulatory requirements as the key drivers. Public companies need to comply with security regulations such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
SOX, for example, calls for fines or even jail time for executives at public companies who fail to properly secure financial records. The growing concern of data loss and theft has also led many private firms to voluntarily comply with such regulations to bolster their reputations and win the confidence of customers and partners.
"Clearly, organizations have been placing emphasis on securing their networks and access to data within the company for several years," says Robinson. "However, while most organizations send sensitive data outside the company, it's only recently become a major area of concern for them."
Source: Datalink Corp.
