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Data Loss Prevalence in the Workplace

Posted on Wed, Aug 12, 2009
  
  
  


Over the past decade, the world has gotten more electronically connected in a multitude of ways. Whether while traveling, in the office or at home - most people are never far away from an electronic medium that holds the capability of linking people to each other nearby or halfway around the world. The complexities of daily business have made instant access to electronic data more and more crucial, and increased the need to put effective data loss protection measures and potential disaster recovery solutions in place.

Take global alliances for instance: many companies have international offices, outsourced managed service providers and offshore development offices that each exponentially increase the chances for data loss. Communication practices as simple as sending e-mails can compromise confidential information that instantaneously travel across the world. Overall, the environment is ripe with opportunity for data loss.

Today's workers experience a far greater amount of flexibility in their work location and hours than those of previous generations. A May 2006 U.S. Chamber of Commerce report stated that 20 million Americans telecommute. This indicates that electronic communications have become the lifeline to the office, with important and perhaps sensitive company data transmitted back and forth throughout cyberspace. This is a prime target for hackers and criminals to hijack.

Throughout the years, organizations have spent an immense amount of resources on data protection for the purpose of safeguarding their mission-critical information. However, the bulk of their efforts have been centered on preventing outsiders from hacking into the organization. Ironically, studies have shown that the majority of information leaks are resultant from data loss inflicted by employees and company partners. There is some research which shows that more than half and as much as 80% of data breaches are caused by company insiders. A business does not need vastly dispersed offices or a staff which heavily telecommutes to be fertile ground for data loss. Employees can cause a data loss disaster for their company with the simple click of a mouse - whether done purposefully or accidentally.


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