Two-thirds of IT decision-makers in Ireland feel more susceptible to data breaches due to the IT strain associated with pandemic-driven remote working. This is according to an independent study, commissioned by Equinix, which surveyed 127 senior IT decision-makers in Ireland.
 
The survey found that on average, organisations have invested an additional €556,916 in their IT infrastructure in order to maintain secure and efficient operations during the pandemic. The majority (71%) of IT professionals in Ireland reported their organisation has had to increase IT security due to the rapid shift towards remote working, precipitated by the pandemic.

The findings also show how a heightened sense of trepidation around data security is informing the decision making of IT leaders, with almost half (48%) of companies surveyed in Ireland planning to invest more in data security in the future, as a result of COVID-19. More than a quarter (27%) of respondents are worried that their company or employees have breached GDPR regulations as a result of remote working arrangements.

Furthermore, almost two-thirds (63%) of those surveyed report that COVID-19 has triggered greater executive-level awareness of, and engagement with, IT strategies.
 
Commenting on the survey, Managing Director for Ireland at Equinix, Maurice Mortell said, "While the transition towards remote working has been broadly welcomed by employees, and in most cases facilitated successfully by employers, industries are still experiencing teething problems when it comes to managing a remote workforce."

He added, "In the GDPR-defined compliance era, companies have had to adjust to tightening regulatory constraints, and have become increasingly cognisant of the implications of data breaches from a financial, reputational and regulatory standpoint. However, the sudden urgency to enable remote working this year has left many businesses feeling susceptible to data breaches."

Source: www.businessworld.ie