Security spending rises, as do risks

IT security spending across the world is rising, but so are virus and malicious code attacks. The findings from the Global Information Security Survey, conducted by vnunet.com's sister magazine Computing and its international sister publications, shows businesses are not following best practice security advice, but are increasing security budgets to cope with growing threats. The research interviewed 7,000 technology and security professionals in 40 countries. Some 56 per cent of UK companies will increase their spending this year. Across Europe, budgets will rise in 57 per cent of companies compared to 30 per cent in 2003, while 59 per cent of North Americans will spend more.

The growth is hardly surprising considering the scale of the problem: 92 per cent of UK companies suffered downtime in the past year as a result of security breaches and espionage. But the money must be spent wisely.

"Each organisation must understand its own risk profile and allow it to drive its security spend," said Yan Noblot, information security manager for the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

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