Survey reveals chief executives held responsible for IT security breaches

13:20 1st December 2008

A survey by the technology website vnunet.com has shown that companies are under increasing pressure to ensure their IT systems are secure.

Despite the credit crunch when companies are looking to make savings through cuts in budget, businesses are being urged not to compromise investment in IT training to ensure data handling is not compromised.

Out of 500 readers who responded to a questionnaire on data protection, 43 per cent said that the chief executive should be held responsible for any security breach.

A third advocated financial penalties for those who do not make their IT databases impenetrable to fraudsters and 16 per cent said a company that loses or leaves vulnerable sensitive personal information about customers should be brought before the courts.

According to the website: "It is clear that many organisations still have a lax approach to protecting customer details as data losses continue to occur on an alarmingly regular basis."

It was announced last month (November 24th) that the information commissioner will be given greater powers to ensure public sector organisations and government departments comply with the Data Protection Act making IT training and investment all the more vital.