Compliance boggles IT bosses

According to research Star Internet, 40 per cent of IT directors admitted their understanding of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act was poor, and similar numbers said they had a minimal grasp of the EU Privacy and Electronic Communications Directive. Two-thirds said they found complying with IT regulation a burden on the business.

"Businesses should be seeking help from their ISP suppliers," said Dan Scobie, strategic technology officer for Star Internet. "Suppliers cannot opt-out of this side of business life.
When security solutions are properly matched, firms can be confident they have created the best environment for navigating the minefield of IT regulation." 

The research, compiled from 300 respondents, suggested that while it was the IT director's responsibility for compliance with IT legislation, those people were ignorant of the implications - Eighty-three per cent of respondents said they had a poor understanding of US-led legislation such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and only 10 per cent felt they were aware of the legislation relating to IT issues.

The research said that compliance had become an issue for 72 per cent of businesses. Eighty-six per cent said the situation would get worse over the next year. 

www.star.net.uk/bestpractice.