New Research by Oracle and the Ponemon Institute Shows Organizations Can Improve Processes to Protect Against Privacy Breaches

Majority of Respondents Feel Too Much Personally-Identifiable Information Is Scattered Across Their IT Systems.

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. and TRAVERSE CITY, Mich.-A new study, commissioned by Oracle and conducted by privacy and information management research firm Ponemon Institute, reveals the top issues that IT and compliance professionals find most worrisome and conveys a pervasive sense of concern among individuals tasked with protecting sensitive corporate data.

In the 2007 Survey: What Worries IT & Compliance Practitioners Most about Privacy and Data Security, the Ponemon Institute examined the perceptions of more than 1,000 IT and compliance practitioners related to common privacy and data protection risks that might seriously impact their organizations. Among the report’s key findings:

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Security and data protection technologies expected to see the most significant increase in adoption over the next 12-18 months, as identified by IT practitioners include Audit Management Tools and Privileged User Access Controls;

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42 percent of IT practitioners believe their organizations can do more to prevent loss or theft of confidential information; and,

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Slightly more than half (55 percent) of IT respondents believe they would be able to notify users and customers impacted by a data breach.

“Our research reveals a disturbing lack of confidence among both IT and compliance practitioners in the ability of their organizations to collect, use, and share sensitive information securely, and within the parameters of the law and corporate policy,” said Dr. Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder, Ponemon Institute. “The study also suggests that the IT and compliance practitioners who are required to deal with IT security and privacy issues see the potential for catastrophic data loss and believe that their organizations should be better equipped to curb this potential risk.”

“Security threats and compliance demands continue to be of critical concern to many organizations,” said Wynn White, vice president, Security Products at Oracle. “Oracle Security software can help organizations address their perceived vulnerability to commonplace privacy and data security challenges by helping to decrease risk and strengthen security.”

The 2007 Survey: What Worries IT & Compliance Practitioners Most about Privacy and Data Security is available at http://www.oracle.com/security/security-worries.pdf. Additionally, Ponemon Institute and Oracle will conduct a Web cast with detailed analysis of the survey on Tuesday, June 19. For additional information please visit: http://www.oracle.com/webapps/events/EventsDetail.jsp?p_eventId=67173&src=5634335&src=5634335&Act=4