About 50% of professionals working in the IT sector are expecting a major attack on the Internet over the next 12 months, according to a survey undertaken by the Business Software Alliance. The survey has also revealed that there is widespread belief (from 47% of the network admin who took part in the survey) that the majority of large corporations are unprepared for such an eventuality.
This is following other surveys in recent times that have also outlined the vulnerable nature of networks being deployed and used today. Last month the software business lobbying group also produced a study indicating that there are many professionals who believe there are even possible weaknesses in government networks that could be open to cyber-attacks.
This has culminated in the proposed BSA backed creation of the Department of Homeland Security proposed by the US president and there has also been a legislative push for companies that are attacked to be exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. The release of the new data is well timed to make an impact on this.
The president and CEO of the BSA has told ZDNet: "There needs to be incentives for businesses to release information about intrusions,". A Loisianna Republican, Billy Tauzin, has also said that "This report is a wake-up call to the private sector, .. They have as much to worry about as the public sector.".
News source: ZDNet
