Complexity as the leading security issue

Security complexity is the number one obstacle that organizations face today. Research from Check Point and the Ponemon Institute shows organizations struggle with a growing set of security priorities and limited employee awareness about corporate policies.

According to the survey of over 2,400 IT security administrators around the world, managing complex security environments is the most significant challenge facing organizations today, with over 55% of companies using more than seven different vendors to secure their network.

According to the survey, over 700 respondents believe the primary concern with emerging technology adoption is compliance.

With the proliferation of cloud computing, mobility, Web 2.0 and file sharing applications, organizations often struggle to apply the appropriate levels of security across all layers of the network, while also adhering to stringent compliance requirements.

Security and compliance in modern day environments begins with a well-defined policy that aligns with an organization’s business needs and industry regulations.

While emerging technologies have created new methods of communication and collaboration for enterprises, organizations struggle with managing multifaceted IT environments; this often contributes to greater security complexity and the risk of data loss by employees.

48.8% of respondents believe their organizations’ employees have little or no awareness about their data protection or corporate policies. As a result, more education and awareness is needed to help people realize their important role in maintaining the organization’s security profile.

In addition, survey respondents believe the ability to manage policies by user is a key functionality to enforce better security overall, with 58% citing identity awareness as a priority.

“Companies are constantly facing new and costly security risks from both internal and external sources that can jeopardize the business. Our research has shown that one cyber-attack can range anywhere from $237,000 to $52 million,” said Dr. Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder, Ponemon Institute. “However, employees can play a big role in being a first line of defense, helping their company enforce stronger security measures and promoting more user awareness within the organization.”

The complete survey is available here, registration required.