Overview

Overview

After the events of Sept. 11, we decided to repeat our August survey on security. We found signs that security is now taken more seriously: Actual security spending increased, IT executives are more thoroughly enforcing security procedures, and line executives are more willing to improve security practices. But as in August, only about half the companies polled plan to increase security spending, and general managers still aren't security savvy. Overall, security, already a top priority, has gained more importance.

The vast majority of non-IT executives are willing to modify business practices to support better security measures, with 87% of our sample reporting such support, up from 74% reported in August. But when it comes to understanding security, IT executives believe their business counterparts only rate a 4.9 on a scale of 1 to 10—up only slightly from 4.5 in August.

The number of large companies that plan to increase security budgets over the next 12 months actually dipped slightly, with 57% planning increases last August and 52% in this survey. But when asked for specific dollar amounts, 18% of the February respondents from large companies said they intended spending more than $1 million in 2001—a figure anticipated by only 7% last August. The number of all companies that spent 5% or more of their overall budget on security grew from 43% in August to 53% in February.