 TITLE: Survey: Companies Fear Data Breaches, Invest in Security CONTENT: Companies Are Spending More to Protect Against Data Breaches\n------------------------------------------------------------\nAs the world experiences a surge in data breaches—many of which are large in scale and well-documented in the media—companies are more acutely aware of the risks breaches pose when they result in the loss or theft of internal or customer data. In response, many have stepped up their protections: 68% of companies say they've invested more in security technology to help detect and protect against such attacks.\nWhen it comes to company precautions, the most common tactic—reported by 73% of respondents—was to conduct regular reviews of physical security measures and access to confidential information. Companies can devise rules that restrict access to areas where confidential information is stored and access to the data itself, an essential step in defending it from prying eyes.\nThe second most common measure companies take—with 69% of respondents reporting so—is to conduct background checks on new full-time employees and vendors. This is another precautionary step that involves simple technology companies can implement without expert help to better understand who is handling confidential data.\nFinally, as the third most common measure, 57% of respondents reported that they regularly conducted third-party cyber security assessments in 2019. This practice saw the largest increase in popularity—a 9 percentage point rise—of all precautionary measures taken in the past two years. This shows that in addition to devising new internal practices, companies are increasingly seeking outside help to beef up their cyber security, solidifying the importance of trained specialists when it comes to protecting cyber integrity. END