Survey: Enthusiasm for Cyber-Security High, Preparation Lacking

To develop a vaccine, researchers must first study those afflicted with a virus. Cyber-security works in similar fashion. To develop methods of prevention, the experiences of those who have been attacked are invaluable. That was at least partly the goal Symantec had in mind when the company conducted research for its Symantec 2010 Critical Infrastructure Protection Study, a survey of 1,580 enterprises from around the globe and across multiple industries. The results were published online this month.

The research data showed:

• Eighty percent of companies believe that cyber-attacks have stayed constant or have increased over time, and 48 percent expect attacks over the next year.
• Past attacks have cost each company an average of $850,000 over the last five years.
• Only one-third of companies consider themselves extremely prepared for attacks.