Responders report that security is an important criteria when considering what network system to buy. An attack through “physical intrusion” is high on the list of concerns among the responders, although most businesses appear to be prepared to deal with any breach of security should it arise. Other concerns include attack by Spam/Spit or DoS attacks. Most responders feel that it is the responsibility of network operators to be up to date with security and supply solutions.

Here are the responses to each of the network security questions:

Question One
Happily 81% of responders’ networks have never been compromised by a security failure in the 12 months up to the middle of September this year. Five networks have suffered one or two security failures. Sadly, one business’s network had been compromised more than 3 times.

Question Two
When asked about the commercial impact on their business of security breaches 75% of the responders reported no security breaches. Of those that had suffered a breach of security, there was minimal, or no commercial impact.

“Cost/price” seems to be reasonably important, although not overwhelmingly, with 50% selecting scores of 4 or 5. 34.5% of responders see “speed to market” as being “least important”. “Flexibility” appears to be less important to responders (a combined score of 31% for scores 4 or 5 (most important)) compared with “Quality of service” where 40% of responders selected scores 4 or 5 (most important).

One responder also said that “Committed Service Level Agreements” are important criteria in the buying decision process.

“Security” becomes even more important for those businesses where there have been no security breaches with 50% rating “security” as “most important” and 68.8% of responders selecting scores of 4 or 5.

Question Four
Reaction to whether migration to IP centric networks has affected network security appears to be mixed with 50% of responders saying “security is neither better nor worse”. However, almost 11% of responders say that “security is significantly better” and only 4% say “security is significantly worse”.

Question Five
Concerns about current or future threats to responders’ networks exist with 46% of responders feeling “quite worried” and 15% feeling “very worried”. No responders reported to be “extremely worried”.

The proportion of responders who feel “quite worried” increases to nearly 53% of those businesses that have not had a security breach in the last 12 months.

Question Six
Overall “physical intrusion” is cited by responders as the most concerning type of attack with 61.5% of responses. “Spam/Spit” and “DoS attacks” rank equally with 50% of responders choosing these types of attack. Attacks by “Skype” are seen as the least concerning with just two responders selecting this type. No “other” types of attack were reported as being of concern.

Question Seven
50% of responders say that their network is “very prepared” to deal with a current or future threat. 11.5% of responders confidently say that their network is “extremely prepared”.

Of the responders that have not had a security breach 63% say their network is “very prepared” to deal with a current or future threat.

Question Eight
Responders are quite clear that “the network operators” have responsibility to keep ahead of network security and supply solutions.

Question Nine
42% of responders agree that most collocation of interconnection facilities have enough security integrity although a further 35% are “not sure” there is enough.

Question Ten
In the selection of collocation or interconnection facilities the “physical security layer” is rated as “very important” or “critically important” by 73% of the responders.