Source: InfoSecurity.com
A full 40% of executives from electricity firms think their industry is more vulnerable to cyber attacks, according to a new report by McAfee and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Close to 30% of respondents believe their company was not prepared for a cyberattack, and more than 40% expect a major cyberattack within the next year, according to a survey of 200 IT security executives from electricity infrastructure enterprises in 14 countries conducted by Vanson Bourne for McAfee and CSIS. The survey results are presented in their new report "In the Dark: Crucial Industries Confront Cyberattacks".
The energy sector increased its adoption of security technologies by only a single percentage point (51%) compared to last year’s report, and the oil and gas industries increased only by three percentage points (48%).
“Perhaps one of the most frightening findings in the report is the fact that, although the security threat and awareness of the threat have increased exponentially, the energy sector increased its adoption of security technologies by only one percent”, Phyllis Schneck, chief technology officer for public sector at McAfee, wrote in a blog.
Schneck offered two reasons for this lag in security investment by the energy sector. First, there is a lack of incentive to invest in security when the threats are not tangible. Second, cybersecurity investment decisions are made at the chief information officer level, when they need to be made at the chief executive level. “Cyber security is a business risk – if the lights go out, everyone loses money”, she said.
Full report at: http://www.infosecurity-us.com/view/17597/40-of-execs-expect-major-cyber-attack-on-electricity-industry-in-next-12-months/
