Survey: Regulatory Compliance Top Concern Of IT In 2011

Regulatory compliance will be the top business issue affecting enterprise information technology (IT) in the next 12 months, according to Top Business/Technology Issues Survey Results, a new survey of more than 2,400 ISACA members from 126 countries.

Conducted by ISACA, a global association serving more than 95,000 business and IT constituents, the survey found that the increase in regulations, data breaches and issues such as cloud computing and personal technology in the workplace are accelerating risk.

“IT cannot be managed in a vacuum. Increasing government regulations, consumer privacy concerns and hacktivist attacks are challenging enterprise IT assets in new ways,” said Tony Noble, CISA, a member of ISACA’s Guidance and Practices Committee and vice president of IT audit, Viacom Inc. “The study also reveals that the business side of the organization believes IT is managed in a silo, which indicates an opportunity for better aligning business with IT to unlock greater value.”

Key business issues affecting IT, according to Top Business/Technology Issues Survey findings, are:

  • Regulatory compliance.
  • Enterprise-based IT management and governance.
  • Information security management.
  • Disaster recovery/business continuity.

Regulatory Compliance is No. 1 Concern

Enterprises need to manage growth in a challenging global economy while complying with more regulations and standards. Within this topic, the top-ranked technology concern (chosen by 53 percent of respondents) was segregation of duties and privileged access monitoring.

Managing IT Project Risk

The survey shows that there is a growing focus on enterprise-based IT management and the governance of enterprise IT (GEIT). Managing IT project risk tops the list of concerns within this area, rated as most important by 45 percent.

Increased Security Breaches

A top concern expressed by ISACA members was the lack of senior management involvement in setting direction for information security, which was ranked as important or very important by 80 percent of responses.

“WikiLeaks, the Zeus botnet and a rise in identity theft show that the variety and volume of threats is rising. Security is everyone’s business, not just IT’s. Organizations need top-down commitment,” noted Greg Grocholski, CISA, director, ISACA and corporate auditor, The Dow Chemical Co.

Lack of Awareness

All business activity is at risk for disruption, yet continuity remains an elusive goal. According to the survey, the biggest problem (87 percent) is the lack of awareness among business managers that they are responsible for being able to maintain critical functions throughout a disaster.


 

Featured

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • Hanwha QNO-7012R

    Hanwha QNO-7012R

    The Q Series cameras are equipped with an Open Platform chipset for easy and seamless integration with third-party systems and solutions, and analog video output (CVBS) support for easy camera positioning during installation. A suite of on-board intelligent video analytics covers tampering, directional/virtual line detection, defocus detection, enter/exit, and motion detection.