Security News > 2004 > June > CSO survey: Companies lack plans in case of terrorist attacks

http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/story/0,10801,93741,00.html By Paul Roberts JUNE 09, 2004 IDG NEWS SERVICE A majority of security executives surveyed said their companies don't have plans to cope with an unconventional terrorist attack, even though most believe that a terrorist attack of some kind is likely to occur in the coming months, according to the results of a poll released by CSO magazine today. The survey of 476 chief security officers and senior security executives found that 60% believe that a terrorist attack is likely in Boston or New York, which are hosting the Democratic and Republican political conventions this summer, respectively. While 63% of CSOs said their companies have planned for conventional attacks such as bombings or hostage taking, 61% said they haven't planned for unconventional attacks using chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, according to the magazine. The online survey of CSO subscribers was conducted between April 27 and May 18, 2004, and has a 4.5% margin of error. CSO subscribers were asked their opinions on a number of issues, including terrorism, politics, IT security policy and purchasing decisions. While planning for unconventional terrorist attacks is rare, the CSOs reported much better preparation for threats such as cyberattacks, natural disasters and violent employees. Ninety-four percent of those surveyed said they have contingency plans in place for natural disasters and 86% for cyberattacks. Eighty percent said their companies are prepared for attacks from violent employees or former employees. Indeed, the survey showed that companies are quick to slam the door on former employees. Seventy-four percent of those surveyed block network access to e-mail and critical documents within one business day of employees being fired or leaving a company, and 81% block physical access within one business day. The theft of intellectual property or other proprietary information is also a top concern of CSOs, with 91% saying that managing access to critical information and documents is either "extremely important" or "very important." The study also showed that those concerns are often well placed. Fifteen percent of the respondents said their employer has lost or had critical documents or corporate information copied without authorization in the past year. Almost a quarter said they could not be sure whether such losses had occurred at their company. However, concerns about the theft of proprietary information aren't influencing decisions about which security products to buy. Only 11% of the CSOs surveyed said that the theft of intellectual property was the primary factor in security spending, which averaged $16.6 million annually among those surveyed. Instead, the desire to comply with government regulations is a bigger motivator. Forty-nine percent cited "issues related to regulatory compliance" as the prime reason behind their security purchases. Companies need to have policies and processes in place that protect their most important assets and ensure the safety and welfare of their employees, said Lew McCreary, CSO's editor in chief. Among other consequences, organizations that are shown to have ignored the interests of either shareholders or employees in the wake of a disaster could be held legally liable for losses and damage. Clearly articulated policies and procedures for emergencies and frequent exercises that reinforce those procedures are a good place to start, McCreary said. But companies also need to weigh the costs and benefits of any plans to guard against attacks, including those involving weapons of mass destruction. "Companies can't go crazy worrying about the likelihood of a terrorist event if the cost of remediating such an event is going to be prohibitive," he said. CSO magazine is published by CXO Media Inc., a subsidiary of International Data Group, which also owns the IDG News Service and Computerworld.com. _________________________________________ ISN mailing list Sponsored by: OSVDB.org - For 15 cents a day, you could help feed an InfoSec junkie! (Broke? Spend 15 minutes a day on the project!)

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