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CEOs aware of insider threat but not taking action

Chief executives are aware of the information security risks presented by people within their companies but aren't taking action to secure the insider threat, according to a survey by Ernst & Young.

More than 70 percent of the 1,233 organizations surveyed did not list training and raising employees' infosec awareness as a priority, the 2004 Ernst and Young Global Information Security Survey showed.

The study also showed that companies continue to focus on external threats such as viruses - and are quick to buy firewalls and antivirus software - instead of internal threats.

"Companies face far greater damage from insiders' misconduct, omissions, oversights, or an organizational culture that violates existing standards," said Edwin Bennett, global director of Ernst & Young's technology and security risk services.

He advised companies to focus on creating a security-conscious culture in which the tone is set by upper management. Right now, only 20 percent of organizations view infosec as a CEO-level priority, he said.

www.ey.com/globalsecuritysurvey

 

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