IT Governance issues ’10 steps to cyber security’ infographic

Encourage leaders of all sizes of business to take appropriate action against the risk of cyber attacks

News | CIOL Bureau

ELY, ENGLAND: As MI5 and GCHQ begin auditing UK FTSE-350 chairmen about their companies' cyber security, IT Governance is issuing an infographic to help all businesses understand the 10 steps they must take to protect themselves from online threats.

IT Governance, the fast-growing cyber security services business, is issuing the infographic as part of its campaign to encourage leaders of all sizes of business to take appropriate action against the risk of cyber attacks and associated data breaches and business interruption.

The infographic, which accompanies this release and may be published by the media, quantifies the reality of today's cyber threat with hard-hitting statistics. It then sets out a risk-assessment process that businesses should perform without delay to foil potential cyber attackers.

Alan Calder, founder and executive chairman of IT Governance, says: "We welcome the fact the Government and its security agencies are trying to raise awareness of cyber security, but the risks also face the millions of businesses outside the FTSE-350. With this infographic, we have distilled into an easily digestible format the steps businesses need to take to protect themselves. We thereby hope to encourage more leaders to take pre-emptive action now, rather just keeping fingers crossed in the face of a rising tide of attacks."

IT Governance recently conducted an international survey of senior executive opinion about cyber security and found 25 percent of bosses said they have received a ‘concerted attack' in the past 12 months. However, the true total may be higher, as more than 20 percent were unsure if their organisation has been subject to attack.

The study, ‘Boardroom Cyber Watch 2013', was conducted as an online survey in April and May 2013. The 260 respondents are board directors, IT directors and other technology professionals. They represent organisations of all sizes, with revenues ranging from less than $5 million to more than $500 million. The sample is truly international: while the majority are from organisations based in the UK and United States, respondents from South America, Central Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand have also contributed.