Industry news

Firms 'need more emergency IT planning'

New research has suggested UK businesses should do more to protect their IT systems, such as data networks and telecommunications.

The study, from by Star and published by Octopus Communications, found six out of ten firms have not improved the protection of their critical IT services after the floods which hit the UK last year.

It discovered that 75 per cent of businesses claim to have established a plan to lessen the impact a major would have on their operations, although many have neglected to set adequate safeguards for IT.

Around four in ten have failed to establish any measures to protect services such as remote working, mail servers and critical applications for staff.

James Griffin, head of hosting strategy at Star, commented: "With the economic outlook looking more challenging over the next year, it is more crucial than ever that businesses take steps to protect their IT and internet systems.

"They are playing a critical role in allowing [firms] to apply the lessons learnt to their everyday business practices."

Earlier this month, Web-User magazine recommended firms draw up internet use policies to prevent IT security being compromised by workers who are online.