Earlier we reported some of the interesting findings from the Absolute Software data security survey. The results showed that 62% of companies believe missing computers go unnoticed and 20% believe that breaches go unnoticed. We continue by looking at a smaller survey of 185 member companies of NetworkWorld’s Technology Opinion Panel. This survey indicates that companies are not well prepared to deter data breaches.

Key findings from the survey include:

• 81% of organizations ranked computer and data security as a high priority
• 53% of organizations do not have policies in place for transporting sensitive data
• 42% do not have data security policies which include mobile computing devices
• For those companies with data security policies, only one out of 100 (1%) employees are thought to adhere consistently to these policies
• 27% of companies have suffered a data breach at an average cost of $137,000
• 55% of companies have experienced laptop theft
• 33% of IT managers believe that data breaches and computer thefts have occurred and gone undetected

The survey results solidify the importance of training in IT security, and that a security policy should more fully address the issues of mobile computing. Such a comprehensive security policy would include a way to supplement employee training by providing protection for all computers in the form of encryption and theft recovery software.

Tags: data security, absolute software, it security, busienss security, laptop theft, mobile security, security policy