UK businesses are leaving themselves open to viruses and loss of corporate data by failing to deal with the security threat from the introduction to their networks of removable media devices such as portable hard drives and MP3 players.

A survey by Reflex Magnetics found that 82 per cent of businesses consider mobile media devices to be a significant security threat, but 60 per cent admitted failing to monitor device usage.

"The research has revealed some worrying attitudes towards corporate security," said Andy Campbell, managing director of Reflex Magnetics, in a statement.

"While businesses recognise a problem exists, they are taking few practical measures to protect themselves from the risks associated with removable media devices."

The poll of 100 IT managers in UK organisations revealed that 84 per cent of businesses do not have security policies to prevent employees using removable media on their networks, while almost half of respondents believe employees take unnecessary risks with critical corporate data.

Two in five admitted to having 'no idea' whether removable media had been used to steal sensitive corporate information. And 85 per cent of firms said that their employees use removable data devices throughout the company, transporting data between the office and home.

"It's clear that the majority of IT managers have little or no visibility of the devices present on their networks and subsequently don't know what these devices are being used for," added Campbell.

"With the growing demand for mobile and remote working practices, removable media devices will only increase in popularity and businesses need to look at ways of securing critical corporate data both inside and outside of the corporate environment."