Since the theft is undetectable, the company is unaware that information has been taken. Security professionals, who understand the dangers of the Internet, typically don't have the budget, resources or clout to protect corporate networks from this new threat. Three fourths of the 563 businesses, government agencies, financial institutions and universities responding to the survey suffered financial losses due to security breaches in 1996. The Internet has changed the profile of security incidents. This year, survey respondents reported about an equal number of attacks from outside as from inside the organization.
Corporate information is more valuable, and more vulnerable, than ever before.
Ruthless competitors would rather steal new technology than invent it. Others copy a winning competitor's product in a desperate bid for market share. Industrial espionage is a real threat. Virtually all important corporate information is computerized and available on networks. In this new, hostile environment, comprehensive network security is no longer optional, it is a matter of business survival.