Symantec’s 2012 Endpoint Security Best Practices Survey, found key differences between organizations that proactively focus on endpoint protection and those that don’t. It’s common knowledge that adhering to best security practices should result in a lower volume of cyber attacks and less downtime for an organization. Responses clearly demonstrated that organizations deploying more comprehensive security technologies and practices were more prepared, better equipped to thwart attacks, and faced fewer losses.

1. Endpoint Security Best Practices Survey
Global Key Findings

2. Methodology
• Survey Performed by Applied Research
• 1,425 organizations worldwide
• Enterprises (500 employees or more)
• C-level, strategic management,
and tactical management
• Cross-industry
2

3. Key Findings
• Top tier organizations fare better against attacks
• Top tier organizations employ the latest in endpoint protection technologies
and practices
• Attacks against endpoints are costly ($470k annually)

4. Top Tier Organizations Fare Better Against Attacks
• 2.5 times less likely to have seen large number of cyber attacks in past year
• 3.5 times less likely to have experienced downtime
• Nearly 4 times less downtime (588 hours versus 2,765)

5. Top Tier Employs the Latest in Endpoint Protection
• Basic protection
– Six times as likely to have deployed virus and spyware protection
– About five times as likely to have firewalls
• Advanced protection
– About five times as likely to have IDS
– About six times as likely to have DLP

6. Attacks Against Endpoints are Costly
• Typical organizations lost $470,430 due to attacks over past 12 months
• Most common losses:
– IT labor costs to recover
– Loss of data
– Damaged brand

7. Symantec Recommendations
• Assess the risk
• Minimize the risk
• Education is crucial
• Be prepared