U.S. Businesses Lag in Web 2.0 Adoption
| 27 | Sep 2010 |
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Businesses worldwide see the value of Web 2.0 in supporting productivity and driving new revenue, but most remain deeply concerned about security threats associated with deploying the technology, according to a new survey.
They are particularly concerned about the security of Web 2.0 applications such as social media , micro blogging, collaborative platforms, web mail, and content sharing tools . More than six out of ten organizations have already suffered losses averaging $2 million, totally a collective loss of more than $1.1 billion in security related incidents last year, according to the research.
Another 60 percent were concerned about loss of reputation as a result of Web 2.0 misuse. Brazil, Spain and India led the rest of the world in adoption of Web 2.0 technology for business use, while its use was lowest in Canada, Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.
However, many are willing to take the risk because they believe interactive Web technology will increase their business.
“Three out of four organizations reported that expanded use of Web 2.0 technologies create new revenue streams, while 40 percent said the tools have boosted productivity and enhanced effective marketing strategies,” the report said.
The report was authored by faculty affiliated with the Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS) at Purdue University and conducted on behalf of from web security solutions software company McAfee.
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“Web 2.0 technologies are impacting all aspects of the way businesses work,” said George Kurtz, chief technology officer for McAfee. “As Web 2.0 technologies gain popularity, organizations are faced with a choice – they can allow them to propagate unchecked, they can block them, or they can embrace them and the benefits they provide while managing them in a secure way.”