News
LANDesk warns of World Cup Security Threats
June 2010 by Marc Jacob
IT Software Management Specialists LANDesk Software have warned that UK companies are facing the prospect of a World Cup security meltdown this summer, following research into the way employees interact with corporate networks. According to the study, almost half (48%) of all downloads in the workplace are non-work related potential security threats, and with the World Cup just around the corner, LANDesk are warning that this statistic could soar, as organisations face the challenges posed by employees looking to find out the latest information from this summer’s tournament.
On June 11th, the World Cup Finals will kick off in South Africa, leading to a wealth of news and information available for download. However, research shows that despite the fact that the majority of UK organisations have introduced strict policies limiting the use of social media (73%) and internet downloads (89%), as many as one in three were doubtful that these were actually being adhered to, which could open the door for employees to download potentially harmful World Cup applications at their leisure.
Especially when you consider that almost three quarters (72%) of IT Managers surveyed admitted that increased use of social media by employees had lead to an increase in the security risks for the company, the danger becomes clear
Andy Baldin, VP EMEA, LANDesk said: “The way we work today has changed significantly, which is something that’s even more apparent whenever a major event like the World Cup comes round. Employees are now working longer hours, and spending more time working from home, which means that this summer there’s a greater chance that those following the World Cup could unwittingly be posing security threats.
“The solution is for HR and IT departments to work together to make sure that they understand what their employees are doing and why. IT management software can also play a role in helping to manage human behaviour effectively by eliminating the threat, and keeping a tighter control on policy.”
