Administration November 9, 2002

Companies Willing to Fund IT Security Efforts

September 11, 2002 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Technology security seems to be a growing concern among companies these days - one at which they're apparently willing to throw a good bit of money.
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According to a survey by Vista Research and Harris Interactive, more than half the companies polled had upped the amount they spend on keeping their IT operation secure – in many cases taken from other parts of the company’s overall tech budgets.

Nearly half of the firms said they plan on repeating the budgeting for the coming year.

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Of those companies intending to spend significantly more this year, four in 10 said they would dip into other information technology budgets to do so, according to a CNET news report about the poll.

IT Security Vendors

The report found that security decision makers are currently using IT security products from mainstream companies such as Symantec, Microsoft and Cisco, rather than security-market stalwarts such as Check Point Software and Internet Security Systems, CNET said.

Specifically:

  • half of the participants cited Symantec as one of the companies they relied on
  • 47% said Cisco was part of their buying mix
  • 42% said Microsoft on their vendor list.
  • a scant 12% mentioned Check Point Software
  • 7% said Watchguard
  • a tiny 4% listed ISS.

Some 12% of the companies polled reported having a significant security breach or major fraud in the past year.

The report summarized the results of a survey of nearly 300 high-level information technology managers.

Reader Responses November 8, 2002

Survey Says: Participant Inertia

August 23, 2001 - Even the most casual study of participant behavior over the past thirty years suggests that participants, for the most part, "set it and forget it" when it comes to making investment decisions.
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For the most part industry pros have drawn some comfort from the lack of abrupt or massive shifts — and some have questioned their lack of involvement despite massive efforts to inform and educate. But this week we’d like to know what you think – Is the apparent lack of participant activity the product of (a) sound education, (b) well-reasoned asset allocation, (c) a lack of time/interest, (d) natural inertia or (e) analysis paralysis?

Our Readers Respond:

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This week’s survey results served to remind me just how many great people are “out there” on the front lines every day trying to make a difference. Take a minute and pat yourself on the back — you deserve it!

As for results: this week we asked your opinion on the apparent lack of participant behavior in managing their retirement accounts–not just during the past 18 months, but frankly for the past 30 years.

Lack of time/interest topped the survey results, garnering nearly a third of the possible responses (32.35%). But that wasn’t far ahead of inertia, which racked up a 31.37% response rate. Analysis paralysis — either too much information with too little knowledge, or just too much choice — was suggested by nearly a quarter of our respondents (23.53%).

More optimistically, nearly 9% said it was the product of well-reasoned asset allocation, while roughly 4% credited sound education.

Thanks to EVERYONE who participated in our survey — and who are working hard to make a difference every day! 

VERBATIMS – Find out what our readers had to say!

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