Directors, executives careless with sensitive data, survey finds.

PositionINFO SECURITY

When it comes to safeguarding sensitive company data, lower-level employees appear to be more careful than directors and C-level executives, a recent survey has revealed.

According to the survey of more than 4,000 employees in North America and Europe, 49% of mid-market managing directors (MDs) and C-level executives (CxOs) have used their personal e-mail accounts to send sensitive business information.

The survey, conducted by Opinion Matters and commissioned by Iron Mountain, also found that:

* 57% have left business-sensitive or confidential information in the printer.

* 40% have sent information over an insecure wireless network.

* 43% have disposed of documents in a potentially insecure trash bin.

* 39% have lost business information in a public place.

Interestingly, the survey revealed that lower-level employees are more security-conscious - only 29% of administrative staff said they have left confidential information in the printer, and just 15% said they have lost business documents in a public place.

When asked about processes in place to protect sensitive data, 21% of CxOs said such processes are too complex and so they look for a way to evade them. Also according to the survey, another 14% said they don't follow company policies regarding data security because they consider the policies too complicated, and 6% are unaware of any such policies at all.

"Our research shows that business leaders in the...

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