For Immediate release
International Survey* Reports 88% of ICT Employees Would Steal
New Zealand computer forensics experts support the findings of a recent UK survey in which 88% of 300 ICT professionals
said they would potentially take valuable and company sensitive information if laid off.
Commenting on the survey findings, Brian Eardley-Wilmot of Computer Forensics NZ says that whilst the figure is
alarmingly high, it clearly articulates the danger for most companies should they dismiss ICT professionals within their
organisation. "Many companies are blissfully unaware of the risk they are at, should a disgruntled employee from any
department leave the company" said Eardley-Wilmot. "The risk is equally high for large or small companies, and many
never know that a theft of data has taken place."
The survey further reported that one-third of IT staff admit to 'snooping' around the network to access both
commercially sensitive and confidential information relating to the company's business operation and other employees'
files.
According to Eardley-Wilmot it is unlikely that the findings would be significantly different should the survey be
replicated here in New Zealand, and that companies should routinely have their systems checked for mis-use. "If a
company suspects an incident might have occurred it is incredibly important that the right steps are taken and experts
in the field are called in immediately," he says.
“In our nine years of conducting computer investigations, we have noted that if managers suspect data theft has
occurred, 99% of the time they’re right!”
Note: The survey was conducted at Infosecurity 2008- Europe's largest IT security event by Cyber-Ark® Software, a UK
based leading provider of Privileged Identity Management (PIM) solutions.
ENDS
About Computer Forensics New Zealand Ltd
Computer Forensics NZ Ltd specialises in data recovery and computer investigations for a long list of blue chip clients.
After more than nine years in business it is considered both a pioneer and a leader in the industry. Computer Forensics
New Zealand Ltd also operates Data Recovery Australia.