* Protecting and securing stored data cited as biggest challenge faced by storage pros
If you oversee storage, then maintaining the security of that data is likely a large-looming concern for you. A recent survey from Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) finds that IT professionals who are involved in managing their organizations’ storage networks cite data protection and security as the biggest challenges.
Conducted between January and March, the Web-based poll is based on 660 responses. Nearly one-third of respondents – 32.5% – said that protecting and securing stored data is their biggest challenge.
“Given the potential cost of a security breach or data loss and its negative impact on a company’s bottom line, the emphasis on security is not surprising,” says John Venator, president and CEO of CompTIA. “The security landscape is made even more complicated by the massive amount of data that needs to be stored; the increasing scale and complexity of storage systems; and the requirements for record retention to comply with government regulations.”
Venator points to the need for companies to have a well-designed, well-managed and well-secured IT infrastructure. An organization should document practices for keeping stored data secure, including how to authenticate access to stored data, what types of information should be kept confidential, and requirements for data backup, restoration, monitoring and auditing.
Here are some of the other storage challenges identified by poll participants:
* 16.9% of respondents cited management and administration of stored data as their biggest issue.
* 10.1% chose gaining faster access to stored data.
* 7.9% identified the need to make data more accessible.
* 6% chose consolidating storage resources.
* 5.6% identified compliance with government regulations.
For more information, go to www.comptia.org
