June 10, 2009 - 6:48am
Data security company Cyber-Ark conducted a poll of over 400 senior IT professionals in the United States and Britain and according to the survey findings more than 1/3 of information technology professionals abuse administrative passwords to access confidential data such as colleagues' salary details or board-meeting minutes.
The study revealed 35% of respondents admitted to snooping with 74% saying that they could access information that was not relevant to their role. In a similar poll conducted last year 33% of IT professionals admitted to snooping.
"Employee snooping on sensitive information continues unabated," Udi Mokady, CEO of Cyber-Ark, said in a statement.
According to Cyber-Ark the most common areas respondents indicated they access are HR records, followed by customer databases, M&A plans, layoff lists and lastly, marketing information.
When IT professionals were asked what kind of data they would take with them if fired, the survey found a jump compared with a year ago in the number of respondents who said they would take proprietary data and information that is critical to maintaining competitive advantage and corporate security.
The survey found a six-fold increase in staff who would take financial reports or merger and acquisition plans, and a four-fold increase in those who would take CEO passwords and research and development plans.
The study revealed 35% of respondents admitted to snooping with 74% saying that they could access information that was not relevant to their role. In a similar poll conducted last year 33% of IT professionals admitted to snooping.
"Employee snooping on sensitive information continues unabated," Udi Mokady, CEO of Cyber-Ark, said in a statement.
According to Cyber-Ark the most common areas respondents indicated they access are HR records, followed by customer databases, M&A plans, layoff lists and lastly, marketing information.
When IT professionals were asked what kind of data they would take with them if fired, the survey found a jump compared with a year ago in the number of respondents who said they would take proprietary data and information that is critical to maintaining competitive advantage and corporate security.
The survey found a six-fold increase in staff who would take financial reports or merger and acquisition plans, and a four-fold increase in those who would take CEO passwords and research and development plans.