Fifty-eight Percent of Higher Education IT Directors Report at Least One Security Incident in the Last Year According to the CDW
October 10 2006 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G), a wholly owned subsidiary of CDW
Corporation (NASDAQ:CDWC) and leading source of Information
Technology (IT) solutions to governments and educators, announced
today, in conjunction with Eduventures, the results of the CDW-G
Higher Education IT Security Report Card 2006 � a survey of 182
higher education directors and managers across the United States.
The study reveals that 58 percent of surveyed higher education
directors/ managers experienced at least one IT security incident
in the last year. Nine percent reported a loss/theft of personal
student information. With an average of 4,097 students per
institution in the U.S, more than three million students could be
impacted by loss/theft of their personal information.* �Without
question, IT security is an issue that everyone in higher education
needs to take seriously as institutions continue to experience
security breaches at a high rate, putting valuable data resources
and personal identity information at risk,� said Stan Gatewood,
chief information security officer for the University of Georgia.
�The CDW-G Higher Education IT Security Report Card takes an
important look at the very real challenges higher education IT
directors and managers face � and what it will take to overcome
them � as they strive to improve IT security at our nation�s
colleges and universities.� Given the number of incidents at
American colleges and universities, IT security continues to be a
big concern on higher education campuses. An overwhelming majority
of respondents (84 percent) rated IT security within their top five
priorities. However, their administrations do not necessarily
regard it with the same sense of urgency. Fewer than half the
respondents report that their administrations make IT security a
top-five priority. IT directors/managers cite �lack of funding� and
�too few staff resources� as the biggest barriers to improving IT
security on campus. As a result, only 11 percent of respondents
state that their networks are �very safe� from attack. Respondents
are most concerned about the amount of sensitive data residing on
unprotected computers, rating these assets as their greatest
security risk. �Our higher education institutions have always
placed a high value on protecting the safety of their students,
faculty and facilities. Today, that extends into protecting an
ever-expanding volume of personal and institutional data, as well
as a growing number of networked devices, from increasingly
sophisticated security threats,� said Julie Smith, director of
higher education for CDW-G. �Our second annual survey found that
while higher education IT directors recognize IT security as a
major priority, they are stretched thin for the vital resources
they need to prevent a devastating loss of critical data.� The
Grades IT directors/managers rate the support for IT security that
they receive from their executive administration, faculty and
students: Administration earns a �B�: Ninety-three percent of
respondents state that the executive administrations at their
schools are supportive to extremely supportive of IT security
initiatives. However, respondents cite �financial commitment� and
lack of �funding for training programs� as barriers with this group
Faculty earns a �C�: Twenty-eight percent of respondents state that
faculty are not supportive of IT security initiatives. �Lack of
awareness� and the �expectation that exceptions will be made for
individuals� are the biggest challenges Students earn a �C�:
Thirty-one percent of respondents report that students are not
supportive of IT security initiatives. Respondents cite �lack of
awareness� and a �disregard of rules/policies� as the major
roadblocks with students �Lack of awareness among students and
faculty is a major challenge as higher education institutions try
to improve IT security on campus,� said Catherine Burdt, senior
analyst for Eduventures. �Part of the perceived lack of support on
campus can be attributed to the fact that computer users are not
aware of IT security policies. Institutions should consider
boosting funding for security training and awareness programs.�
Financial Support for IT Security Though IT directors/managers
state that IT security is a major priority and that their
administrations are supportive, 97 percent report that one quarter
or less of their IT budgets go toward IT security. The vast
majority of respondents (81 percent) feel that the budget allocated
to IT security is less than what is needed. In addition, 68 percent
report no growth in their IT security budgets this year compared to
the previous year. CDW-G Recommendations CDW-G recognizes that the
solutions to the challenges raised in its survey are complex and
require in-depth analysis. However, CDW-G recommends that higher
education institutions initiate a dialogue between the appropriate
departments on campus to consider the following recommendations:
Present formal business cases to administrations when seeking
budgetary increases for security enhancements Examine the total
financial impact of a major security breach � costs associated with
technology, downtime, staff time spent on recovery, communications,
legal action, etc. � to make the business case for additional
funding Improve authorized access policies to reduce outside
threats to networks Manage and monitor the increasing number of
devices hooking up to the network � potentially investing in
technologies like network access control Boost funding for security
training and awareness programs, and make them mandatory for all
network users Methodology The CDW-G Higher Education IT Security
Report Card findings are based on an online survey of 182 higher
education directors and managers from a variety of higher education
settings � from large research institutions to small community
colleges. The study has a +/- 5.5 percent margin of error at a 90
percent confidence level. Visit www.cdwg.com/higheredsecurity for
more information about the survey results and a complete analysis.
About CDW-G A wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation
(NASDAQ:CDWC), a FORTUNE 500 company, CDW Government (CDW-G) is a
trusted�technology advisor to federal, state and local government
agencies,�as well as to educational institutions at all levels.
CDW-G offers best-in-class technology products and services from
top-name brands such as Acer, Adobe, Cisco, HP, IBM, Lenovo,
Microsoft, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, Symantec, and Toshiba. For
more information about CDW-G product offerings, procurement
options, service and solutions, call 1.800.863.4239, or visit the
CDW-G Web site at CDWG.com. About Eduventures Eduventures is a
research and consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations
succeed in the rapidly changing education market. The firm serves
institutions across the education landscape, from K-12 through
higher education, and works with a client base of executives and
senior managers at hundreds of leading educational organizations
and the businesses that serve the education markets. For more
information, visit www.eduventures.com. * 1105 Media, Inc.
estimates that there are approximately 10,000 higher education IT
directors/managers in the U.S. Assuming that each survey respondent
represents a unique institution, the total number of institutions
impacted by a loss/theft of student data nationwide is
approximately 900. Federal government data indicates that there is
an average of 4,097 students at each higher education institution,
as there are 17,272,000 enrolled postsecondary students and 4,216
postsecondary institutions in the U.S. (Source: U.S. Department of
Education, National Center for Education Statistics). CDW
Government, Inc. (CDW-G), a wholly owned subsidiary of CDW
Corporation (NASDAQ:CDWC) and leading source of Information
Technology (IT) solutions to governments and educators, announced
today, in conjunction with Eduventures, the results of the CDW-G
Higher Education IT Security Report Card 2006 - a survey of 182
higher education directors and managers across the United States.
The study reveals that 58 percent of surveyed higher education
directors/ managers experienced at least one IT security incident
in the last year. Nine percent reported a loss/theft of personal
student information. With an average of 4,097 students per
institution in the U.S, more than three million students could be
impacted by loss/theft of their personal information.* "Without
question, IT security is an issue that everyone in higher education
needs to take seriously as institutions continue to experience
security breaches at a high rate, putting valuable data resources
and personal identity information at risk," said Stan Gatewood,
chief information security officer for the University of Georgia.
"The CDW-G Higher Education IT Security Report Card takes an
important look at the very real challenges higher education IT
directors and managers face - and what it will take to overcome
them - as they strive to improve IT security at our nation's
colleges and universities." Given the number of incidents at
American colleges and universities, IT security continues to be a
big concern on higher education campuses. An overwhelming majority
of respondents (84 percent) rated IT security within their top five
priorities. However, their administrations do not necessarily
regard it with the same sense of urgency. Fewer than half the
respondents report that their administrations make IT security a
top-five priority. IT directors/managers cite "lack of funding" and
"too few staff resources" as the biggest barriers to improving IT
security on campus. As a result, only 11 percent of respondents
state that their networks are "very safe" from attack. Respondents
are most concerned about the amount of sensitive data residing on
unprotected computers, rating these assets as their greatest
security risk. "Our higher education institutions have always
placed a high value on protecting the safety of their students,
faculty and facilities. Today, that extends into protecting an
ever-expanding volume of personal and institutional data, as well
as a growing number of networked devices, from increasingly
sophisticated security threats," said Julie Smith, director of
higher education for CDW-G. "Our second annual survey found that
while higher education IT directors recognize IT security as a
major priority, they are stretched thin for the vital resources
they need to prevent a devastating loss of critical data." The
Grades IT directors/managers rate the support for IT security that
they receive from their executive administration, faculty and
students: -- Administration earns a "B": Ninety-three percent of
respondents state that the executive administrations at their
schools are supportive to extremely supportive of IT security
initiatives. However, respondents cite "financial commitment" and
lack of "funding for training programs" as barriers with this group
-- Faculty earns a "C": Twenty-eight percent of respondents state
that faculty are not supportive of IT security initiatives. "Lack
of awareness" and the "expectation that exceptions will be made for
individuals" are the biggest challenges -- Students earn a "C":
Thirty-one percent of respondents report that students are not
supportive of IT security initiatives. Respondents cite "lack of
awareness" and a "disregard of rules/policies" as the major
roadblocks with students "Lack of awareness among students and
faculty is a major challenge as higher education institutions try
to improve IT security on campus," said Catherine Burdt, senior
analyst for Eduventures. "Part of the perceived lack of support on
campus can be attributed to the fact that computer users are not
aware of IT security policies. Institutions should consider
boosting funding for security training and awareness programs."
Financial Support for IT Security Though IT directors/managers
state that IT security is a major priority and that their
administrations are supportive, 97 percent report that one quarter
or less of their IT budgets go toward IT security. The vast
majority of respondents (81 percent) feel that the budget allocated
to IT security is less than what is needed. In addition, 68 percent
report no growth in their IT security budgets this year compared to
the previous year. CDW-G Recommendations CDW-G recognizes that the
solutions to the challenges raised in its survey are complex and
require in-depth analysis. However, CDW-G recommends that higher
education institutions initiate a dialogue between the appropriate
departments on campus to consider the following recommendations: --
Present formal business cases to administrations when seeking
budgetary increases for security enhancements -- Examine the total
financial impact of a major security breach - costs associated with
technology, downtime, staff time spent on recovery, communications,
legal action, etc. - to make the business case for additional
funding -- Improve authorized access policies to reduce outside
threats to networks -- Manage and monitor the increasing number of
devices hooking up to the network - potentially investing in
technologies like network access control -- Boost funding for
security training and awareness programs, and make them mandatory
for all network users Methodology The CDW-G Higher Education IT
Security Report Card findings are based on an online survey of 182
higher education directors and managers from a variety of higher
education settings - from large research institutions to small
community colleges. The study has a +/- 5.5 percent margin of error
at a 90 percent confidence level. Visit
www.cdwg.com/higheredsecurity for more information about the survey
results and a complete analysis. About CDW-G A wholly owned
subsidiary of CDW Corporation (NASDAQ:CDWC), a FORTUNE 500 company,
CDW Government (CDW-G) is a trusted technology advisor to federal,
state and local government agencies, as well as to educational
institutions at all levels. CDW-G offers best-in-class technology
products and services from top-name brands such as Acer, Adobe,
Cisco, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony,
Symantec, and Toshiba. For more information about CDW-G product
offerings, procurement options, service and solutions, call
1.800.863.4239, or visit the CDW-G Web site at CDWG.com. About
Eduventures Eduventures is a research and consulting firm dedicated
to helping organizations succeed in the rapidly changing education
market. The firm serves institutions across the education
landscape, from K-12 through higher education, and works with a
client base of executives and senior managers at hundreds of
leading educational organizations and the businesses that serve the
education markets. For more information, visit www.eduventures.com.
* 1105 Media, Inc. estimates that there are approximately 10,000
higher education IT directors/managers in the U.S. Assuming that
each survey respondent represents a unique institution, the total
number of institutions impacted by a loss/theft of student data
nationwide is approximately 900. Federal government data indicates
that there is an average of 4,097 students at each higher education
institution, as there are 17,272,000 enrolled postsecondary
students and 4,216 postsecondary institutions in the U.S. (Source:
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education
Statistics).
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