13/12/2010 - Firms 'vulnerable to cyber attacks'
British companies are underestimating the "growing menace" of cyber criminals and are leaving themselves vulnerable to attacks, a study has claimed.
According to Cyber Security Monitor security specialists Detica, 82% of large companies agree that the criminals were innovating faster than businesses, but 94% believed their systems were well-equipped.
But Henry Harrison, Detica's technical director, said the threat was being underestimated.
He said: "Awareness of the real commercial threat to private industry appears to remain low. It is surprising that the vast majority of those questioned believe themselves to be adequately equipped to deal with a direct cyber attack, as the most commonly quoted forms of IT security in the survey, firewalls and anti-virus software, leave many organisations vulnerable.
"Companies increasingly need to go beyond the firewall to guarantee the integrity of their commercial and customer data. This threat isn't simply going to go away, and cyber risk should be addressed around the board table - it isn't just the preserve of governments and the military.
"Overall, this survey shows just how difficult it is to get a balance between the conspiracy theorists and the cyber threat naysayers."
The survey also found that cyber attacks are considered a "growing menace" by 92% of firms, while 60% admitted a successful attack would impact on their organisation's competitiveness.
Around 58% of businesses consider the greatest threat of cyber attacks to come from criminal groups or professional fraudsters, with company employees also viewed as a potential threat by 56% of firms.
Some 30% of companies thought their business was at risk of being hacked by state-sponsored spies, while 52% believed the Government should do more to help.
Recent high-profile cyber attacks have seen supporters of whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks attack companies such as Visa and Mastercard.
:: Ipsos Mori carried out 50 telephone interviews with business leaders drawn from businesses in a range of sectors with a turnover in excess of £350 million.
Copyright © Press Association 2010
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