Whether it's the festive season or not, users still need to be sensible. Viruses with a Christmas disguise are far more likely to be forwarded around friends and colleagues, so users need to be on their guard. The research, which surveyed 120 heads of corporate networks, found that they believed end users are just as responsible for jeopardising the performance of an ebusiness as the technology itself. Some 40 per cent of respondents said that end users were the most vulnerable part of the network, and created a significant security threat. By centralising the management of antivirus and security software, and controlling the flow of traffic through a network, companies can reduce the risk of virus attacks and security breaches.
Constant updates are also essential in order to keep network defences steady.
The underlying message is that corporations need to make sure their email users are even more vigilant at this time of year. Even though an attachment may appear to be from a friend or colleague, the risk is just as high. If you're not expecting an attachment, don't open it. Most of the time users aren't even aware of what they're forwarding. The ideal solution is to take the responsibility out of the hands of the end user, but a reminder to all staff about the network-stopping potential of seemingly friendly attachments around this time of year wouldn't go amiss.