Indian companies increase use of information security: Survey

Mumbai, Jan 22 (UNI) Indian companies are increasingly using information security and risk management in a more strategic role for addressing business objectives, the 10th annual Ernst&Young Global information security survey has revealed.

The survey, in which 1300 senior executives from more than 50 countries were interviewed, India emerged as the second largest contributor with 114 respondents.

Survey findings indicate that delivering IT, operational efficiencies and improving overall business performance are emerging as critical objectives for the companies.

According to the survey the number of organisations that have fully integrated the information security function into risk management operations has increased to 39 per cent in 2007 from 19 per cent in 2006. Compliance is a major driver in this integration as indicated by 50 per cent of respondents in India.

Speaking to reporters here, Technology and Security Risk Services Ernst&Young Partner Terry Thomas said, '' With the growing number of internal and external threats in today's dynamic business environment we expect further integration of information and risk management.'' Technology Security and Risk Servies Associate Director Devendra Parulekar said, ''The importance of privacy of data protection are considered to be drivers for information security. Majority of the respondents from the top management which include 73 per cent of the CEO's and 64 per cent CIO's place considerable importance on protecting privacy related information managed by their organisations. Privacy and data protection have emerged as the top drivers for information security as indicated by 58 per cent of respondents.

''We have realised that the focus and drivers for information security may change over the years but the need to protect information assets remains virtually important to business globally,'' he added.

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