Emerging threats to business security

While electronic security has always been an issue for businesses to deal with, many may have found a false comfort in the impressive development of internet security and anti-virus software in recent times. Along with our ever increasing technology landscape comes new ideas and opportunities for criminals to attack. These facts are backed up by an FBI report published in February 2009 which stated that cyber criminals have stolen more than $433 billion, which in itself translates to 6% of the US economy.

1. Emerging opportunities for attack.
In a statement released this year, WatchGuard, a leading network security company claimed that due to the ever increasing 'mobile workforce' and 'the exponential growth and development of Web 2.0' a new and innovative security solution was requried. They also estimated that threats of this nature will triple in 2010. These types of attacks result from the growing number of mobile devices and their use of features such as 'always-on' internet access which allow attackers more opportunity and scope for disruption.

2. Malware.
Although in existance for many years malware remains a constant issue in business security. This can by proven by the fact that a type of autorun based malware is currently topping the 'BitDefender’s Top Ten Threat Report for November'. This is a report issued by BitDefender each month outlining the top current threats.

3. Insider misuse.
Although like malware in the sense that it has been an issue for many years, negligence of authorised users continues to emerge as the leading cause of security breaches.
A February 2009 Ponemon Institute study reported 88% of data breaches were attributable to staff negligence or lack of awareness.




References:

. http://searchenterprisedesktop.techtarget.com/

www.WatchGuard.com

www.bitdefender.com