News
Clavister’Survey: job roles and personality traits most likely to cause a security breach
January 2009 by clavister
The main cause of security breaches and data loss can be contributed to the actions of staff, and a recent survey of IT managers revealed that based upon personal characteristics, the personal assistant is one of the least likely to pose a security risk to the business – M was right to trust Moneypenny!
Network security vendor Clavister commissioned YouGov* to identify the most likely culprits and those IT managers don’t trust. The survey revealed that only 1% of IT directors and managers that responded cited PAs as the type of employee that poses the biggest IT security risk to the company they work for.
However, according to the IT managers and directors surveyed the sales and fieldwork force and operational staff are among those most likely to pose a security risk to the business. Someone who is lazy is also the office character IT managers feel most likely to pose the biggest IT security threat.
“Companies have to act responsibly when it comes to protecting their business, including employees, partners, customers and suppliers. Network security and technology plays a big part in this, but ultimately, so do its employees,” explains Andreas Asander, VP product management at Clavister.
“Understanding the characteristics of the people most likely to create a security incident will be useful when recruiting staff. It is important that we assess how much of a risk the candidate poses.”
The survey revealed IT managers believe that the types of employees most likely to cause a breach were:
1. Sales/ fieldwork staff
2. Operational staff
3. CEO/MD
4. Those that work from home
5. Temporary staff
The office characters most likely to cause a security breach were some one who is:
1. Lazy
2. Laid back
3. Panics easily
4. A gossip
5. Ambitious
* All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 212 private sector IT or Telecoms Directors and Senior Managers. Fieldwork was undertaken between 22nd - 29th September 2008. The survey was carried out online.
