Business data loss, a major challenge

28 Sep 2011

The Cibecs 2011 Business Data Loss Survey has been released, uncovering the major IT challenges when it comes to protecting endpoint data which is located on company laptops and desktops. This survey serves to increase understanding of where data loss vulnerabilities and risks lie.

"In 2011 over 50% of the 250 companies surveyed had lost business critical data," says Cibecs CEO, Richard Dewing. "Even more concerning was that 10% of companies stated they would not be able to recover business data if lost and 37% estimated that business data recovery in their organisation would take a day or longer and up to a month in some cases!"

The survey uncovered that 30% of respondents value the data on their laptop or desktop at almost R200 000. Combine the value of business data with the potential reputational risks of losing it and the corporate governance requirements of protecting this data and enterprises have a pressing incentive to ensure they employ an effective endpoint data protection solution.

The 2011 Cibecs Data Loss Survey reveals a definite void between the reality of data loss and organisations employing working solutions to the problem. 45% of those surveyed found their data backup solution only 'moderately effective' while 22% believe their current business data protection is ineffective.

Laptops increase data loss risks

Another interesting discovery was that 60% of companies now use laptops as their primary system, illustrating a definite move towards business data mobility. This mobilisation of corporate data increases data loss risks, as well as intensifies possible cyber security threats and unauthorised access to corporate information.

Increased user mobility also results in inflated bandwidth costs - with over 67% of companies reporting significantly higher bandwidth and storage costs in 2011. The Cibecs survey unearthed multiple data loss risks and causes - the majority of companies listing 'negligence' as their most common cause of data loss.

One of the key challenges acknowledged by Gartner in storage planning for 2012 is that IT tends to look at user data protection in the traditional sense, meaning from the centre out, instead of from the edge, inward - with the main areas of risk and exposure residing on endpoint user devices such as laptops and desktops.

"It is clear that in 2011, data loss and specifically laptop and desktop data loss, has become a definite pain-point for enterprise IT," says Dewing. "The requirement for effective data protection is more important now than ever before."