BOCA RATON, Fla. and ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- An increasing percentage of enterprises are using more secure practices when it comes to data communications, according to the 4th Annual Enterprise Security Survey commissioned by VanDyke Software(R) and conducted by independent research firm Amplitude Research(R). The annual survey pinpoints what keeps IT network and systems administrators up at night and reflects their priorities and selections for best practices.

Commitment to Secure File Transfers Shows Significant Increase in 2007

When respondents were asked to rank a list of 11 security management issues facing their company, "Secure file transfer" showed the most significant increase in the percentage of respondents ranking it as one of the three top issues in 2007 (31%) compared to 2006 (13%). Other issues on the list were Keeping virus definitions up to date (45%); Managing logs (8%); Monitoring intrusions (40%); Network use monitoring (22%); Password management (20%); Patching systems (42%); Replacing nonsecure protocols (8%); Securing remote access (47%); User awareness (20%); and User training (14%).

Roughly two-thirds of the 300 survey respondents (68%) reported using a secure method of file transfer when exchanging sensitive data internally between remote offices, up significantly from 52% in 2006. In addition, three of four surveyed in 2007 report using a secure method of file transfer (at least sometimes) when exchanging sensitive data with customers, vendors, suppliers, and other third parties.

Among those using secure file transfer (externally or internally), close to three-fourths (73%) in 2007 -- up from 60% in 2006 -- indicate that their organization's security policy identifies what "sensitive data" should be exchanged using a secure method of file transfer. 67% of those using secure file transfer expressed that they are likely to purchase a new or replacement secure file transfer solution within the next 12 months.

Commitment to Remote Access Security Also Shows Significant Increase in 2007

Meanwhile, "Securing remote access" was selected by survey respondents as being the number one issue of importance (24%) among the list of 11 security issues, up from 15% the year before. "The survey findings correlate to what we see happening in the field. Finally, the lines have crossed with steadily increasing adoption of Secure Shell and a significant decline in the use of Telnet to configure network devices," said Jeff P. Van Dyke, president and founder of VanDyke Software.

In 2004, 43% of the respondents to the VanDyke-commissioned survey had said that their organization was using Secure Shell for remote access, and in 2005 the percentage climbed to 48%; in 2006 56% indicated using Secure Shell, and in 2007 the percentage jumped an additional 10% to 66%. Over the same time period, use of Telnet remained somewhat steady until 2006, when usage declined substantially from 54% in 2006 to 38% in 2007.

Half of Secure Shell users (50%) in 2007 thought it was at least somewhat likely that their organization will purchase a new or replacement Secure Shell solution within the next 12 months -- up significantly from 36% in 2006.

Receptivity to Microsoft Windows Vista Grows

The proportion of the annual VanDyke-commissioned enterprise security study respondents reporting that they are already testing, currently testing, or planning to test Windows Vista increased from 56% in 2006 to 69% in 2007.

The proportion with plans to deploy Windows Vista in their organization increased from 48% in 2006 to 58% in 2007.

* 19% said they would deploy after successful completion of testing of the official release * 20% said they would deploy after Service Pack 1 for Vista is released * 19% said they would deploy only on PCs with Vista pre-installed Single-Source Security Vendors Gain Ground in 2007

In last year's survey, only 8.23% of the survey respondents said they assemble information-security tools from a single-source vendor, while 90.58% said they "mix-and-match" from multiple sources. In 2005, 9.64% of the survey respondents indicated that they turned to a single-source vendor, and in 2004 17.61% responded that they turned to a single-source vendor for a turnkey solution. This year, 18% reported assembling information security tools from a single source for a turnkey solution -- up significantly from 2005 and 2006.

The 2007 study was conducted by Amplitude Research over the period April 17th to April 23rd, 2007 among a nationwide web panel and had 300 total survey respondents. To obtain an executive summary of the 2007 survey of network and system administrators commissioned by VanDyke Software, contact Michael Krems of Krems Public Relations at krems@kremspr.com. KremsPR can also be contacted by media looking for further comments/analysis on the survey from Steve Birnkrant, CEO of Amplitude Research, Inc. or Jeff P. Van Dyke, President and founder of VanDyke Software.

ABOUT AMPLITUDE RESEARCH, INC.

Based in Boca Raton, Fla., Amplitude Research (http://www.amplituderesearch.com/) is a full-service survey research organization with blue chip clients located throughout the United States and Canada. Its leadership team has over 30 years experience in survey research, online data collection, and statistical analysis of survey data. Its proprietary technology panel founded in early 2002 includes access to over 7,000 network and system administrators.

ABOUT VANDYKE SOFTWARE, INC.

IT professionals who are responsible for network administration and end-user access where security is critical rely on VanDyke Software's rock solid and easy to configure software. The company develops secure, standards-based data access, file transfer, and communications software for internet and intranet use by corporations, government, and education. VanDyke Software consistently delivers accurate, responsive support, and addresses its customers' evolving needs with timely product enhancements. VanDyke offers a fully-supported 30-day evaluation of its products prior to purchase. For more information about VanDyke Software, visit the company's web site at http://www.vandyke.com/.

CONTACT: Michael Krems, +1-805-496-8166, for VanDyke Software, Inc.

Web site: http://www.amplituderesearch.com/

Web site: http://www.vandyke.com/