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10/10/2001 Archived Entry: "Gartner: Most IT security problems self-inflicted Computerworld News & Features Story"

Gartner: Most IT security problems self-inflicted | Computerworld News & Features Story

IT professionals in charge of computer security need only look in the mirror to meet their biggest enemy.


About 90% of security breaches occur because attackers take advantage of software that IT staffers have either misconfigured or failed to patch, a Gartner Inc. analyst said Monday during the company's Symposium/ITxpo 2001 in Orlando. Thus, by fixing known vulnerabilities and properly configuring software products, IT departments could prevent most security incidents, such as Web site defacements, information theft and denial-of-service attacks.


"We have met the enemy, and they are us," said analyst John Pescatore.