Data loss comes at a cost. A Ponemon Institute study published in March reveals that organizations suffering a data loss in 2011 paid an average of $5.5 million per breach, which translates into an average of $194 per record lost.

"The damage resulting from data loss -- to the bottom line and to an organization's reputation -- is very real," said Christine Holloway, vice president of converged infrastructure solutions at CDW. "Perhaps it should come as no surprise that IT professionals view data loss as the greatest business risk to organizations this year. As tele-work and access to mobile computing grows, preventing data loss is increasingly important -- and increasingly complex."

According to the survey, the number of people accessing business networks increased by an average of 41 percent during the last two years. Inadequate security policies contribute to security challenges. While most organizations allow employees to access their networks with personal mobile devices, security policies for employee-owned devices are often less strict than for employer-owned devices. Twenty-seven percent of IT professionals said they do not have security policies for employee-owned mobile devices.

"No organization appears to be immune from data loss -- blue-chip companies, small business, schools and governments have been affected," said Rick Hanson, senior director of sales at Symantec. "Prevention is essential. Organizations that layer security solutions to address network endpoints, data at rest and data in motion are more aware of potential security threats, less susceptible to breaches and better able to respond when a breach occurs."

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