Data Security Trends Among C-Suite Executives and Small Business Owners (SBOs)
Although C-Suites and SBOs recognize data security risks, they underestimate the consequences those risks entail.
Shred-it’s 2020 Data Protection Report found that 43% of C-Suite executives (C-Suites) and 12% of small business owners (SBOs) have experienced a data breach. They also believe that external threats (25% C-Suites; 18% SBOs) and physical loss or theft of sensitive information (22% C-Suites, 19% SBOs) are the biggest information security threats facing their businesses today.
Lack of employee training is a leading cause of insider threats. While most US businesses regularly train their staff…
14%
of C-Suites train their staff on information security policies only once during their employment
7%
of C-Suites train their staff on information security policies on an ad-hoc basis
8%
of SBOs train their staff on information security policies only once during their employment
18%
of SBOs train their staff on information security policies on an ad-hoc basis
Information Security Findings from Several Groups
This year, Shred-it studied several groups to best understand the information security perceptions and behaviors across a broad spectrum of audiences.
About the Data Protection Study & Report
In its 10th year, this survey identifies the insights, opinions and best practices of data protection among Small Business Owners (SBOs), C-Suite Executives (C-Suites) and members of the public at large from across the country to help Americans better navigate this changing privacy landscape. The goal is to uncover – and quantify – both the risks and opportunities American businesses and consumers face, including the upsides and downsides of mishandling data and/or being breached.