News Scan: Consumers put retailers on data breach notice...

Retailers are being put on notice by consumers that they hold them responsible for preventing future data breaches, such as those experienced by Target and Neiman Marcus. A recent study by Feedzai, a big data science company, reveals that "60 percent of those who knew about any data breaches at notable retailers, such as Target and Neiman Marcus, hold the merchant responsible for preventing future incidents." The "2014 Consumer Reaction to Financial Data Breaches Study" also found that 43 percent of respondents think nothing is more aggravating than having credit or debit card data stolen. "These findings show that consumers believe it is the merchant's responsibility, but really it is a collective problem that the industry needs to understand in order to distinguish customers from criminals and keep payment data safe," said Dr. Pedro Bizarro, chief data scientist at Feedzai said in an email to FierceCIO.

(Read my complete article at FierceCIO)

25% of your staff could be leaving you

One of every four workers in your IT department could be gone this year--lured away by headhunters and hiring managers at the competition. They will grab for more money, better recognition or just walk away from an unsatisfying job.

 

Those are the harsh realities facing IT managers this year, according to survey results and anecdotal evidence from a recent study by CareerBuilder, which looked at job satisfaction and retention issues in the workforce.

(Read my complete article at FierceCIO)

News Scan: Billionaire IDG founder Pat McGovern dies...

International Data Group founder and Chairman Patrick J. McGovern died March 19 at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif., it was announced by the company. McGovern had a career dedicated to information technology, and over the span of 50 years, he oversaw IDG's launch of more than 300 magazines and newspapers and the expansion of IDG's network to include more than 460 websites, 200 mobile apps and 700 events worldwide, it was reported by CIO. He launched the company's flagship publication, Computerworld, in 1972. "IDG has lost a true visionary, and the IT community has lost one of its most exceptional citizens," said newly elected IDG board chairman Walter Boyd. "He created a unique workplace where we have the outstanding leadership team in place to ensure that the company he created will continue to grow and prosper." (This editor had the very great pleasure of working with Mr. McGovern for seven years at Computerworld)

(Read my complete article at FierceCIO)

Affordable Care Act opening doors to IT security attacks

The Affordable Care Act may be bringing millions more Americans into the fold of the insured, but it is also creating a virtual smorgasbord of security vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can feast on.

(Read my complete article at FierceCIO)

News Scan: SMBs feel immune from cyberattacks...

Three-quarters of small and mid-sized businesses reportedly believe they are too small to be of interest to cyber criminals, and therefore safe from cyberattacks. That is the finding of new research from security firm Kaspersky Labs. In addition, 59 percent of the companies surveyed said the information they hold would not be of interest to cyber criminals. Neither of which are the case, an article at Computer Weekly says. "Whether it is a supplier, a partner or a customer, SMEs tend to have links to other, larger companies. With this in mind, cyber criminals increasingly target SMEs to get information that will enable them to access the larger company's infrastructure," the article quotes David Emm, senior security researcher at Kaspersky Labs as saying.

(Read my complete article at FierceCIO)

Your next staffing crisis: project managers

Many organizations may soon find themselves understaffed with project managers, putting them at great disadvantage as the economy continues to recover.

 

That is the finding of the recent study ESI 2013 Project Manager Salary and Development Survey by project management training company ESI International. The firm surveyed 1,800 project managers in 12 different industries in the U.S.

(Read my complete article at FierceCIO)

Embrace, don't fear, your COO and CFO relationships

The role of CIO is as much about managing relationships as it is mastering technology. With that in mind, Michael Hugos, principal at the Center for Systems Innovation, recently offered up his thoughts on the CIO and COO relationship, and on the CIO and CFO relationship.

(Read my complete article at FierceCIO)