Survey reveals 80 per cent concerned about internet data security
By Maurice Garvey
A MAJORITY of IT professionals are concerned about data security through use of the public internet, according to a new survey.
The survey was carried out by one of Ireland’s largest data centre operators Equinix, who operate two such local facilities in Clondalkin at Kilcarbery Park, and Citywest.
Key findings revealed 80 per cent of those who use public internet to exchange data are concerned about the security of their data –an issue set to become more imminent when the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) comes into force on May 25.
Results also found 41 per cent of respondents expect the store of data in their organisation to grow by more than one-fifth in the next 12 months.
Just over half of those surveyed said that they think the information age is over, having been replaced by the interconnected era.
The survey was commissioned by Equinix and carried out by TechPro among 103 senior IT professionals and decision-makers in Irish-based businesses.
Four out of five people surveyed consider it important to have direct interconnection on the same network with service providers such as Google, Amazon and Microsoft.
When asked to select the most important enablers of digital transformation, survey respondents identified interconnection with digital partners as one of the top three facilitators (57 per cent), alongside the ability to transfer data (67 per cent) and a hybrid-cloud infrastructure (58 per cent).
More than half (54 per cent) of senior IT decision makers say that the explosion of external data sources, data locations and applications makes managing the digital side of their business significantly more complex.
Maurice Mortell, Equinix managing director for Ireland and emerging markets, said those who continue to rely on the public internet risk having their data compromised.
“The increasingly globalised economy requires businesses to have the ability to connect with their customers and partners faster than ever before,” said Mr Mortell.
“To thrive in the interconnected era, organisations need to leverage robust, enterprise-strength interconnectivity from established providers such as Equinix. Locating their IT infrastructure in a data centre that physically connects customer and partner networks enables organisations to avail of faster and more secure private connections and take better advantage of the benefits of digital transformation.
“The Global Interconnection Index, which Equinix released earlier this year, found that as companies create new ways of connecting with customers, partners and supply chains, interconnection bandwidth is outpacing growth of the public internet, growing at nearly twice the rate and six times the volume. Private connections on the same network are becoming the preferred method of data exchange between enterprises.”
TAGS Business
