IT workers are increasingly introducing new devices into the enterprise, posing a challenge to information security professionals and potentially putting the security of organisations at risk in coming years, according to a new study by Frost and Sullivan.
The study surveyed over 10,000 information security professionals across the globe and found threats from mobile devices, the Cloud, social networking and insecure applications has led to “information security professionals being stretched thin, and like a series of small leaks in a dam, the current overworked workforce may be showing signs of strain”.
Read more about IT careers and leadership in CIO’s careers category.
“In the modern organisation, end-users are dictating IT priorities by bringing technology to the enterprise rather than the other way around,” Frost & Sullivan global program director for network security, Robert Ayoub said in a statement. “Pressure to secure too much and the resulting skills gap are creating risk for organisations worldwide.”
“We can reduce the risks, however, if we invest now in attracting high-quality entrants to the field and make concurrent investments in professional development for emerging skills. As the study finds, these solutions are underway, but the question remains whether enough new professionals and training will come soon enough to keep global critical infrastructures in the private and public sectors protected.”
According to Ayoub, the positive feedback from the findings of the survey, is that information security professionals have management support and are being relied upon and compensated for the security of the most mission-critical data and systems within an organisation.
The findings also indicated a gap in the skills required across the IT industry, with information security professionals admitting they need further training as most of these technologies are being deployed without security in mind.
IT also showed identifying and retaining staff in the current IT landscape is not getting any easier, with supply not matching demand for IT skills.
Alarmingly, almost 70 per cent of respondents reported having policies and technology in place to meet the security challenges of mobile devices, yet mobile devices were still ranked second on the list of highest concerns by respondents, indicating mobile security may be the most significant threat to organisations in the future.
Follow CIO Australia on Twitter: @CIO_Australia
Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.