For more info on a specific newsletter, click the title. Details will be displayed in a new window.
Subscribe to
Computerworld 40 years of the most authoritative source of news and information for IT leaders.
|
|
|
|
July 11, 2005 (Computerworld) -- Can your users change when it comes to security? Yes, probably. At least that's what two surveys that came out last week suggest. The Pew Internet & American Life Project polled 1,300 Internet users about spyware and related problems (the results are online at Pewinternet.org). Meanwhile, Computerworld.com columnist Larry Ponemon reported on a Ponemon Institute survey of 400 people who were victims of a personal data breach .
Neither study is intended to be about changing what users do. But the lessons they offer in that line are pretty compelling.
Unfortunately, you may not much like those lessons.
See, the main thing that's clear from both studies is that fear, anger and distrust are what motivate users to change. In the Pew survey, 91% of users said fears about malware have made them change how they deal with e-mail, the Web, downloads and even software user agreements. And, according to the Ponemon survey, most of those whose personal information is leaked will dump the bank, credit card or other company that exposed their data.
So users will change -- if they get afraid, angry or distrustful. That might be useful in getting them to stop doing risky, insecure things. But only if you make sure they're not afraid, angry or distrustful in your direction.
So threatening them with punishment for breaking security rules won't work. Neither will trying to force them to obey or lying to them. No wonder IT's standard techniques for getting users to behave always fail. They're exactly the wrong approach.
Then what might work? Beyond fear, anger and distrust, there are some other useful insights to be gleaned from these studies:
• Users like the personal touch. According to the Ponemon survey, users who got a phone call after their personal data was exposed were much more likely to trust the company than were users who just got a written notice. Lesson for IT: Memos don't work. Personal contact is expensive, and lots of IT people could use some polish on their people skills. But if you want to change behavior, you'll need to do it one on one.
• Users drag their feet, but they want a quick response from others. The Pew survey says two-thirds of users will wait a week or more before dealing with a suspected spyware infection, and 20% will never deal with it. But the Ponemon results say users resent any delay in being informed of a security breach. Lesson: You need to respond fast, then convey that urgency to users so they'll call you as soon as they suspect a problem instead of letting it fester.
• Users pass the buck. Pew says users often blame friends or family for spyware infections. ("Nope, it's not my fault.") Lesson: Never mind the blame for past problems. Focus on things that "we" -- meaning users and IT staffers -- can do to avoid this problem going forward.
• Users do better with follow-ups. In fact, Ponemon says that 82% of users expected more help than they got after their data was exposed. Lesson: Don't do just enough. Don't tell them just once. Remind them. Repeat the message. Then check back to reinforce it with a positive spin. ("Everything working OK? Still keeping an eye out for those bad e-mail attachments?")
• Finally, users want more information. Really. Ponemon says 67% of users thought the information they got after a security breach was incomplete or unreliable. Pew says 60% of users who have spywarelike problems can't figure out what's wrong. Lesson: Give users that information. Make it straight, clear and useful. Ask for questions. Make sure users understand your answers. You want them to clearly grasp security threats and the damage they can do.
After all, now that you know the strongest motivators of change for users, you want their fear, anger and distrust aimed squarely at security threats -- where they belong.
Frank Hayes, Computerworld's senior news columnist, has covered IT for more than 20 years. Contact him at frank_hayes@computerworld.com.
|
Print this Story |
|
Send Us Feedback |
|
E-mail this Story |
|
Digg this Story |
|
Slashdot this Story |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
All Zones Application Performance Zone Enterprise-Class Security Zone Enterprise Solutions Zone The File Data Management Zone Grid Computing on Windows Zone Security Management Zone ITIL Best Practices Zone The SAS Zone Storage Virtualization Zone The Data Center Management Zone |
 See your link here
|
 |
||||||||
| ||||||||
| ||||||||
| ||||||||
|
Long Tail Supplier Collaboration - What's In It For You? 
Download this Executive Bulletin (a $49.95 value) for free, compliments of MessageLabs.
Get this white paper now!
Read up on the latest ideas and technologies from companies that sell hardware, software and services.
- HP confirms XP SP3 endless reboot snafu, promises patch
- Yahoo tells Icahn that its own board knows best
- Tools circulate that crack Debian, Ubuntu keys
- More top stories
Security Management ZoneSecurity management is the process of developing a comprehensive data protection plan. It takes into account all potential threats, the existing network environment, the future needs of the organization, and lays out a multi-tiered blueprint to integrate the security technology needed to combat these threats. CDW can help keep your network and data secure. Visit the CDW Security Management Zone now See All Zones
|
 Fired up about IT? Join Sharkbait and share your true tales of IT. SharkBait is the place for you to sound off about everything IT – the good, the bad, and the rest of the weird stuff you deal with every day.New baits 
|
"Security Directions" virtual trade show2008's Code-Red Security Issues for Protecting the EnterpriseWebcasts, white papers, demos, and more. Presented in a unique 3-d environment. Enter our show right now! Click here to enter
|
 In SecurityThere's plenty of talk about how to behave during a Customs search of your computer and gear, but Jon Espenschied's got tips for securing your data (and privacy) before you reach the border. Click here to read the latest column by Jon Espenschied |
 |
 |
Layered Security Solutions
Although basic network security issues have changed very little over the past decade, the
network security landscape has changed dramatically. Today's IT professionals still have the
primary responsibility of protecting the confidentiality of corporate information, preventing
unauthorized access, and defending the network against attacks. Security experts and analysts agree that a security solution comprised of multiple layers is the best defense against today's increasingly sophisticated attacks.Download this white paper 
|
Universal Threat Management - Because Conventional UTM is Not Enough!
This white paper, written by Mark Bouchard of Missing Link Security Services, examines the challenges confronting today's enterprises with respect to managing threats on a network. It also discusses the need for "Universal Threat Management", which is a security solution approach for all physical locations within an enterprise that require threat protection.Download this white paper |
Selecting the Right Threat Management Solution
This short demo will guide you through key considerations for selecting a solution to manage threats on a network. Learn about the popularity of Unified Threat Management (UTM), and how it fits into an overall security solution. Explore critical elements of a network-wide solution for multisite and large network-size deployments and identify the four key features of a threat management solution.View this demo
|
CIO
Computerworld
CSO
DEMO
GamePro
Games.net
IDG Connect
IDG World Expo
Infoworld
The Industry Standard
ITworld
JavaWorld
LinuxWorld
MacUser
Macworld
Network World
PC World
Playlist
Copyright © 2008 Computerworld Inc. All
rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium
without express written permission of Computerworld Inc. is prohibited.
Computerworld and Computerworld.com and the respective logos are
trademarks of International Data Group Inc.
|
