DiData calls for compliance

Johannesburg, 30 Mar 2009

Poor network management and basic security vulnerability oversights are leaving organisations open to security attacks and operational downtime, says Dimension Data, in its Network Barometer Report.

The report presents the aggregate data from 152 Secure Network Infrastructure Assessments, conducted by Dimension Data. According to the report, 73% of networking devices have known security vulnerabilities, which expose a business to both external and internal security attacks and breaches, and which could have significant implications for regulatory compliance.

Rich Schofield, global business development manager for Network Integration at Dimension Data, says organisations are running with vulnerabilities they're probably not aware of. “The most basic protection measures against threats that could harm an organisation, such as access and password configurations, are simply not in place. It's the functional equivalent to leaving the doors and windows unlocked when you leave home,” he explains.

According to Schofield, ageing IT and network assets, depending on their functions, will become increasingly unsupportable and open to risk. Security breaches and data leakage can have damaging logistical and financial implications.

“Today, organisations depend on the functionality, availability and successful management of their IT networks. Indeed, many companies would simply not function without the technologies that enable their business processes. Given this dependency, the basics of keeping networks running and 'ready for business' should be a priority for most organisations,” Schofield says.

“Organisations must take action now, before they incur reputational or shareholder damage.”