IT Security - UK companies' biggest concern
UK companies are spending an increasing amount of time and money protecting themselves from IT security threats despite claims from some sectors of the technology industry that the war against hackers and virus writers is being won. This is one of five key conclusions drawn by Butler Group, Europe's leading IT research and advisory organisation, based on its analysis of results from the Q1 2006 "UK IT Priorities Survey," undertaken by ZDNet.co.uk, the UK's leading technology website and a property of CNET Networks UK. Whilst the survey found that companies are prioritising investments in anti-virus, anti-spyware and network security, it also clearly indicates that other important areas of risk, such as identity and access management, are largely being over-looked.
The "UK IT Priorities Survey," provides a real-time snapshot of business technology priorities and a comprehensive view of the practical issues affecting IT professionals in the UK.
Results from the survey reveal that the number one IT priority of UK technology professionals continues to be security, with risk management being the predominant motivator. Other top priorities are application development, networking and communications, server hardware and desktop software.
The responses to the "UK IT Priorities Survey" were wholly assembled from contributions of ZDNet.co.uk readers. Respondents were invited to mark which technologies they considered to be most important to their organisation and about the motivation behind their selection. It was found that 47% of IT projects are motivated by the need either to increase user productivity or to improve the competitiveness of the organisation.
Other findings from the survey reveal:
- Two thirds of respondents see Rich Internet Applications as the future due to the advantages it offers in terms of end-user productivity and increased competitive advantage.
- Investment in networking and communications is being driven by the need for mobile and flexible access to networks. To maximise benefits from these investments, UK companies need to go beyond the basics and align their investment with corporate business and IT strategies.
- Virtualisation, blade servers and server consolidation were identified as the key techniques for improving the efficiency and utilisation rates of the IT infrastructure. Despite this, many companies are being slow to implement wide-scale virtualisation across multiple machines.
- Increased end-user productivity is driving 51% of the survey group to invest in office productivity applications. However, companies are failing to provide adequate training for their employees on the relevant software, meaning that they are not reaping the maximum benefit from their IT investments.
"Protecting their IT infrastructure is still a major drain on time and resources for UK companies despite apparent advances in anti-virus and other security systems," said Andrew Donoghue, Insight Editor, ZDNet.co.uk. "This has a lot to do with the changing structure of companies such as the increase in remote working and online collaboration with partners which while creating more flexible working patterns and business models, also exposes previously closed systems to potential attack."
ZDNet.co.uk and Butler Group believe the IT Priorities Programme is an essential tool for IT professionals as it enables them to discover more about what their peers are doing and the impact new technologies may have on the future success of their company. This is vital information for IT decision-makers who face increasing pressure to justify their IT priorities and expenditure.
A full copy of the report can be obtained by contacting prbutlergroup@datamonitor.com
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Notes to Editors:
UK IT Priorities Survey in association with Butler Group, Europe's leading IT research and advisory organisation
ZDNet.co.uk launched the IT Priorities research programme in 2003. Q3 2005 results of this in-depth survey of a cross-section of IT professionals have been analysed by Butler Group, Europe's leading IT research and advisory organisation, to create the "UK IT Priorities Survey" reference report with exclusive information on the technologies that UK companies see as vital now and over the next 12 months. The report provides valuable information for IT decision-makers who face increasing pressure to justify their IT priorities and expenditure.
Andrew Kellett is a Senior Research Analyst with Butler Group. To arrange an interview or for further information about this research and related reports, please contact:
Krishna Rao Tel: +44 20 7675 7271 E: prbutlergroup@datamonitor.com OR
About Butler Group
Butler Group (www.butlergroup.com) is Europe's leading independent IT Research and Advisory organisation. Its mission is to ensure that its clients are the most comprehensively informed IT and business managers on current, emerging, and future technology matters, and their impact on business - in short, "Analysis without compromise". Butler Group has established an enviable reputation for the impartiality and incisiveness of its research and opinions. This is evidenced by a client base encompassing over 40% of the top 100 companies in each of Butler Group's key markets. Butler Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of Datamonitor Plc (www.datamonitor.com)
About ZDNet UK
ZDNet.co.uk, a property of CNET Networks UK, is the first stop for technology decision-makers who need authoritative, analytical and insightful coverage of the latest developments in technology. The site provides an invaluable perspective on business technology and is the leading resource for technology purchasing and planning - engaging technology decision makers as they move from business need to vendor solution.
About CNET Networks UK
CNET Networks UK is a part of CNET Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: CNET), a worldwide media company and creator of content environments for the interactive age. CNET Networks Inc. is headquartered in the US and has offices in 12 countries globally, including the UK. CNET Networks takes pride in being "a different kind of media company", creating richer, deeper interactive experiences by combining the wisdom and passion of users, marketers and its own expert editors. CNET Networks UK focuses on the business technology, personal technology and entertainment categories through six UK-focused websites: ZDNet.co.uk, silicon.com, Builder UK, CNET.co.uk, atlarge.com, and GameSpot UK. CNET Networks UK also delivers one-to-one services through its direct marketing arm CNET Direct.
