A stronger staff

摘要

Sloppy computer hygiene by staff is exposing companies to security breaches and financial loss. External attacks are now so frequent and so sophisticated that companies are looking to staff policy to ensure that employees do not become the weakest link and inadvertently open up networks to criminals. According to the Department of Trade & Industry's Security Survey, 66% of businesses suffered a security breach during 2004, compared to just under 50% in 2002. Most businesses attributed these breaches to inappropriate use of information systems by staff. The theory that staff are the weakest link is supported by a Websense Security Labs report which found a 300% increase in attacks as a result of instant messaging and malicious websites in the first quarter of 2005, compared with the fourth quarter of 2004.