| American business leaders placing higher priority on corporate security A survey sponsored by the Council on Competitiveness found that 88 percent of senior business executives rate security as a top or high priority for their company. Almost two in three (65 percent) surveyed executives report their companies have adopted new security standards in the past 12 months.
The survey also indicated that companies have stepped up the pace and scope of vulnerability assessments. 83 percent of companies have conducted risk assessments in the past 12 months in at least two of the following three areas: physical security, IT security, financial management. A similar Council survey conducted in September 2002 found that only 34 percent of companies had conducted risk assessments. Companies report taking a much closer look at critical infrastructure - a key concern of the Department of Homeland Security. In a 2002 survey, less than 40 percent of companies reported risk assessments in electronic communications, electrical power connections or telecommunications. Today, business is focused on the interconnectivity and interdependence of networks: 71 percent have conducted comprehensive assessments of electronic communications, 68 percent of financial assets and 58 percent of telecommunications and electric power connections. A majority of business leaders (63 percent) contend that the private sector should take the lead in setting new standards for security. Yet, the survey also indicates that company executives are unsure as to whether their actions to increase security are the right ones. Only a third (34 percent) believes their company's security standards represent best practices. A summary of the findings of this survey can be found at www.compete.org/COCNewsletter.pdf
•Date:
29th October 2003 •Region: N.America •Type:
Article •Topic: BC
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