Concerns over security and governance issues are still preventing many business executives from fully embracing consumer Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs and wikis, according to new global research by consultancy KPMG.

The research of nearly 500 executives found that although 70 per cent said the technologies would help their staff work better, and three-quarters said the tools would help foster innovation, nearly half said they lacked understanding of how Web 2.0 relates to their business.

In addition, over half said securing data is the main barrier to adoption, while around 30 per cent said that not knowing how to measure the impact of Web 2.0 tools is preventing them implementing the technologies more widely.

But the research found that different sectors are at varying stages of adoption, with technology and financial services firms most aware of the risks of Web 2.0 and consumer goods industries least progressive in policy implementation.

"The challenge for the technology industry is to communicate the benefits of Web 2.0 to customers effectively and address the concerns that remain around security and relevance to different industries,” said Crispin O'Brien, chairman of technology at KPMG.