One in three global businesses see loss of data as a significant threat and the key issue to address in operational risk management planning, according to the latest global risk briefing report conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit and sponsored by Ace European Group.

A press release from the company said the survey of 181 senior executives and risk professionals revealed that loss of data was the most important consideration in terms of operational risk, with over 40 percent saying their organisation focused more on loss of data than other issues — including systems failure, human error and even natural disasters.

The results mark a growing risk management trend towards a greater emphasis on the operational impact of data loss.

Commenting on the report, Gareth Tungatt, senior underwriter specialising in IT and Cyber Risk at ACE said:”The survey shows that risk managers clearly understand the value of data and, increasingly, are focusing on its associated losses.

“I see this report as providing the evidence to show that more businesses are looking ahead in terms of their business continuity planning. Seventy one per cent of those questioned said that they have increased the time and resources they dedicate to focusing on their business continuity programmes.”

The survey showed that over half of respondents think that the volume and severity of operational risks have increased in the last three years but reassuringly, a similar number were confident that their business’s operational risk planning would successfully manage areas such as risk assessment and quantification.

When asked about the business impact of poor planning, 43 percent of respondents identified reputational damage as the main threat. However, only 19 percent said loss of revenue.

Mr. Tungatt commented:”The apparent lower level of fear about loss of revenue is a concern. Based on the survey’s findings exposure to financial losses is expected to increase so it is clear that businesses should be doing a lot more than they currently are to counter the financial implications of data loss. Products such as Ace’s Dataguard cover have been developed to provide protection against such losses and risk managers should be considering these to mitigate potential business failure.”