ISACA Survey: Mexican Consumers Confident about Controlling Security on their Internet of Things Devices, Yet Cybersecurity Pros Caution That Security is Insufficient

MEXICO CITY–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Is the Internet of Things safe? A new survey from global cybersecurity
association ISACA suggests a major confidence gap about the security of
connected devices between the average consumer and cybersecurity and
information technology professionals.

According to the consumer segment of ISACA’s 2015
IT Risk/Reward Barometer, 82 percent of Mexican consumers are
confident they can control the security on the Internet of Things (IoT)
devices they own. Yet, only 60 percent of IT and cybersecurity
professionals who responded to a parallel survey feel confident about
controlling who has access to information collected by IoT devices in
their homes.

Mexican consumers (91%) consider themselves somewhat or very
knowledgeable about the IoT and the average estimated number of Internet
of Things devices in their home is seven. Smart TVs top the list of most
wanted Internet of Things device to get in the next 12 months, followed
by Internet-connected cameras, connected cars and smart watches.

The Hidden Internet of Things

ISACA’s survey of IT and cybersecurity professionals globally depicts an
Internet of Things that flies below the radar of many IT organizations –
an invisible risk that is underestimated and under-secured:

• 49 percent believe their IT department is not aware of all of their
  organization’s connected devices (e.g., connected thermostats, TVs,
  fire alarms, cars)
• 73 percent estimate the likelihood of an organization being hacked
  through an Internet of Things device is medium or high

“In the hidden Internet of Things, also invisible are the countless
entry points that cyber attackers can use to access personal information
and corporate data,” said Christos Dimitriadis, international president,
ISACA, and group director of Information Security, INTRALOT. “The rapid
spread of connected devices is outpacing an organization’s ability to
manage and safeguard company and employee data.”

According to cybersecurity and IT professionals surveyed, device
manufacturers are falling short. Seventy-two percent say they do not
believe that manufacturers are implementing sufficient security measures
in IoT devices.

“Internet of Things establishes a new platform to develop abilities
related to IT in the new products and devices of organizations to get
key information from its operating processes. As a result, security
conditions and control are fundamental expectations from the new digital
ecosystem created by manufacturers in Latin America,” said Jeimy J. Cano
M., Ph.D., CFE, COBIT5, CISO for Ecopetrol S.A, and expert in
cybersecurity and data privacy, ISACA Montevideo Chapter.

ISACA established Cybersecurity
Nexus (CSX) to help develop the cybersecurity workforce. Details on CSX
2015 conference and the new CSX
Practitioner certification: https://cybersecurity.isaca.org.

Risk/Reward Barometer

ISACA’s annual IT Risk/Reward Barometer polls thousands of IT and
cybersecurity professionals and consumers worldwide to uncover attitudes
and behaviors, and the trade-offs to balance risk and reward. Results: www.isaca.org/risk-reward-barometer.

ISACA^® (isaca.org)
is a global nonprofit association of 140,000 professionals in 180
countries.

Contacts

for ISACA
Marisol Mendoza, 55.2881.0231
marisolm@keepengaged.mx