Only 51% of security leaders and professionals are confident that their cybersecurity teams are ready to detect and respond to cyberattacks during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new research by Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).
Only 59% said that their security teams have the required tools and resources at home while working remotely while 58% respondents stated that hackers are taking advantage of the outbreak to steal digital assets and disrupt organizations’ operations.
While 92% of respondents said that cyberattacks on individuals are rising, 87% of them believe the rapid transition to remote work as the main cause. The survey findings are based on 3,700 IT audit, risk, governance, and cybersecurity professionals across 123 countries.
ISACA CEO David Samuelson, said, “A surge in the number of remote workers means there is a greater attack surface. Remote work is critically important right now, so security has to be at the forefront along with employee education. ISACA professionals have an especially critical role to play in protecting their enterprises, customers and stakeholders during this pandemic.”
According to the research, the respondents are extremely concerned about various impacts from the COVID-19, which include:
- Economic impact on my national economy (49%)
- Health of family and friends (44%)
- Personal health (30%)
- Economic impact on my organization (24%)
ISACA CTO Simona Rollinson, said, “What we do now is that tech professionals, including the IT audit, risk, governance and security professionals in our community, are more necessary than ever to their enterprises, and they are well-positioned to adapt and even thrive, regardless of what changes may be in store.”
Earlier, in similar research, ISACA revealed that there is a lot more to be done in information and technology in terms of overall governance, cybersecurity policies, and defenses. The study further revealed that the board of directors and a team of leaders are emerging as a chink in the cybersecurity armor. As a result, several leadership teams are increasing funding for cybersecurity and risk management programs. It highlighted that 90% of surveyed business leaders agreed that strong technology governance contributes to improved business outcomes.
