DUBAI: 14 November, 2006 - A study conducted by eHosting DataFort, the regional leader in managed hosting and IT security services, has shown a high incidence of network security breaches among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the region.

More than 60 % of the surveyed companies experienced at least one security incident that led either to a PC crash or corruption of data.

The survey was conducted among a wide cross section of small and medium enterprises from various sectors across the region. The study defined small and medium enterprises as having less than 50 computers.

Surprisingly, small enterprises, companies with less than five computers, experienced the same or more security incidents than large companies.

Saeed Al Barwani, CEO of eHosting DataFort said: "The study shows that security threats are felt by all kinds of companies from small to medium to large. Security incidents chip away at the profitability of businesses, especially if they are not aware of the impact they have. It is important for enterprises to safeguard their information and computing resources by implementing a comprehensive security policy backed by regular monitoring and updated security architecture. Businesses are being negligent if they are reducing their security investment and not focusing on mitigating their risk."

The small and medium companies surveyed had small budgets for network security solutions. Over 50% spend less than US$ 750 annually on network security solutions. The total average monthly security spend of the companies was a paltry $100.

However, there was increasing awareness of the need to deploy network security solutions, which could soon translate into enhanced spending. Close to 70% of respondents reported that they were either in the process of implementing or are planning to implement security solutions within the coming 12 months. A large proportion of the companies, however, lacked essential internal expertise in implementing such solutions.

Currently, over 60% of respondents are outsourcing one or more IT services, with close to 40% outsourcing support and web hosting Outsourcing is mainly driven by the lack of internal resources and the cost-effectiveness of the external services.

eHosting DataFort will be showcasing an entire range of infrastructure and consulting services at GULFCOMMS that can enable organizations not only to secure their information assets but also acquire significant competitive advantage through improved business performance, cost reduction and revenue enhancement.

One such service being launched is the EnterpriseSecure Managed Security Service (EMSS) that includes a powerful hardware firewall, one-year subscription to Gateway Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, Intrusion Prevention, Content Filtering Service, firmware updates and 24x7 support for comprehensive network protection. EMSS provides complete network security against threats including viruses, spyware, worms and Trojans.

GULFCOMMS Dubai 2006 is taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre's (DWTC's) Dubai International Exhibition and Convention Centre from 18th -22nd November 2006 and will be open from 10.00 am until 7.00 pm on each day of the show. eHosting DataFort's stand will be located in Zabeel Hall in Stand Z - B01.

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About eHosting DataFort:
eHosting DataFort is a Managed Technology and IT Security Services Company. It is a fully-owned subsidiary of TECOM Investments and is a member of Dubai Holding. eHosting DataFort provides comprehensive Managed Hosting services, Data Centre Consulting, Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity solutions, Remote Managed IT Services and IT Security Consulting Services. It delivers its operations through highly reliable, scalable infrastructure and systems based on ITIL processes. In its position as a regional leader, eHosting DataFort offers excellence in the field of next generation IT and Data Security Services offering solutions with a higher productivity and a lower Total Cost of Ownership. The organization has expanded its reach to the Gulf Region, the Middle East, Africa and the Indian subcontinent.
 
For further information, please contact:  
Sachin Bhardwaj
eHosting DataFort
Marketing Manager
Tel: +971 4 391 3040
Fax: +971 4 391 3050
Email: Sachin.bhardwaj@ehdf.com
Website: www.ehdf.com

Rami Adwan
JiWiN
(The Public Relations arm of Dubai Press Club)
Tel: +9714 361 3 333
Fax: +9714 388 8 001
Email: rami.adwan@jiwin.ae
Website: www.dpc.org.ae  

© Press Release 2006