Still Room To Improve Data Breach Readiness

While many companies have taken impressive steps in an effort to prepare themselves for the likely inevitability of a data breach, a new study from Experian found that more work needs to be done. To understand what organizations have done, are doing and still need to do to be ready for a big data breach, Experian commissioned the Ponemon Institute to conduct a study, the results of which have been published in its annual corporate preparedness study, Is Your Company Ready for a Big Data Breach? According to the results, there are several steps companies need to take in order to improve, as "only 36% of businesses are prepared to respond to a data breach and confidence levels to control growing threats are low." In order to effectively improve data breach readiness, the study found that the C-Suite needs to be more engaged. Of the survey respondents, 49% said their executives lack an awareness about plans to deal with a data breach. In addition, the report noted that 81% of respondents believe that increased participation and oversight from senior executives would make their response plan more effective.