Alarming trend in incidents of data loss among IT experts revealed

Date: 19 Jan 2012

Citywealth

Nearly a third (32 per cent) of IT professionals surveyed in a recent poll admitted losing portable storage devices containing either corporate or personal information. The results of the survey, using data captured from 513 respondents across four separate Information Technology and security events in the UK during 2011 reveal the percentage of IT experts making the admission increased by 39 per cent compared to the results of a similar survey in 2010.

The latest survey from iStorage, a specialist in portable storage and digital encryption, also highlights an alarming trend across the industry, with 23 per cent of survey respondents at SmartGov Live and 40 per cent at IP Expo 2011 admitting losing portable devices. Furthermore, over half (57 per cent) of all respondents admitted to carrying unencrypted data on USB sticks, portable hard drives and optical media, despite over 98 per cent describing data loss as a ‘serious and growing’ concern.

John Michael, managing director of iStorage, said: “The survey’s results are alarming, not only because of the double-digit percentage increase in incidents of data loss by IT experts, but because our respondents should be beyond reproach. These statistics show a disturbing trend by IT professionals, despite nearly all acknowledging data loss to be a serious and growing concern. Our survey highlights that many do not connect an awareness of broader security issues with personal or corporate data security procedures.”