Is Your Company a Security Leader or Laggard?

Published: Mar 11, 2015
Updated: May 12, 2021
2 minute read

Is Your Company a Security Leader or Laggard?

Governance Matters

Governance Matters

About 56% of cyber-security leaders surveyed have a sanctioned strategy in place and outsource core security operations. By contrast, 68% of laggards only use one or neither approach.

Metrics Count

Metrics Count

Leaders are 18% more likely to have CISOs deploy metrics for evaluating security operations than laggards. They also are 23% more likely to deploy enterprise risk management procedures.

Focus on Compliance

Focus on Compliance

Laggards are 50% more likely to have CISOs and security efforts focus on compliance with regulation and policies.

Alignment Is Critical

Alignment Is Critical

The study found that half of the leaders make information security a priority and align security and business objectives, while nearly 40% of static companies do neither.

Innovation Is Important

Innovation Is Important

Leaders rated security innovation as vital to achieve strong security at 8.1 on a scale of 10. On the other hand, laggards rated it at 6.1.

Attitudes About Encryption

Attitudes About Encryption

Leaders rated encryption in the cloud a 7.18 on a scale of 10 in terms of importance, while laggards rated it a 6.0.

Big Data at Risk

Big Data at Risk

Leaders rated security protocols over big data a 6.33 on a scale of 10 in terms of importance, while laggards rated it a 4.94.

An Eye on Network Activity

An Eye on Network Activity

Leaders rated the need to pinpoint anomalies in network traffic an 8.55 on a scale of 10 in terms of importance, while laggards rated it a 7.45.

Organizations Dial Into BYOD

Organizations Dial Into BYOD

Both leaders and laggards have an eye on BYOD. Leaders rated it 7.16 on a scale of 10, while laggards rated it a 7.76.

Left to Their Devices

Left to Their Devices

Leaders rated the importance of limiting insecure devices a 6.03 on a scale of 10, while laggards weighed in with a 7.18.

Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts

“Three key areas are critical for security effectiveness: the existence of a defined strategy, effective use of technology and solid governance practices.”–Ryan LaSalle, Accenture Global Managing Director–Growth & Strategy, Security Services

Final Thought on Security
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Final Thought on Security

“CIOs should seek out security capabilities that enhance the user experience and productivity and improve their ability to counter advanced threats.”–Ryan LaSalle, Accenture

Samuel Greengard

Samuel Greengard is a business and technology writer based in West Linn, Oregon. He is author of The Internet of Things (MIT Press) and Virtual Reality (MIT Press).

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