Security related topics are often front and center in the 24-hour news cycle, but what concerns Americans the most? According to a new national survey from University of Phoenix® College of Criminal Justice and Security, identity theft (70 percent) and personal cybersecurity (61 percent) are the security issues of greatest concern. These fears may be grounded in experience as nearly two-in-five (39 percent) have suffered a personal security breach, such as identity theft, unauthorized use of credit card information or email/social media account hacking.
Other security concerns include: terrorism (55 percent), national security (54 percent), personal safety (49 percent), neighborhood crime (47 percent), property theft (44 percent) and natural disasters (44 percent). Despite recent high profile incidents, only 18 percent of working adults are concerned about workplace violence. More working adults (31 percent) are concerned about organizational security issues such as corporate cybersecurity, network security, fraud and corporate espionage.
The recent online survey of more than 2,000 Americans was conducted on behalf of University of Phoenix by Harris Poll in August 2014.
The survey also examines shifts in security concerns. Only 12 percent of Americans feel generally more secure than they did five years ago, while 41 percent feel equally secure and nearly half (47 percent) feel less secure. At least half of Americans are more concerned about personal cybersecurity (61 percent), identity theft (60 percent) and national security (50 percent) than they were five years ago.
“Security issues affect every American in some way, both personally and professionally,” said James “Spider” Marks, recently appointed executive dean of University of Phoenix College of Criminal Justice and Security. “All industries and most businesses have to dedicate resources to identify and address security threats, creating significant job growth in the sector and demand for training.”
Marks, a retired major general with more than 30 years of service in the United States Army, has held numerous leadership and consulting roles in the private sector, including entrepreneurial efforts in education, energy and primary research. Previously, Marks was president and CEO of Global Linguist Solutions, a private company that provided linguistics services to the U.S. military. In his current role with the University, Marks is responsible for the management of the College of Criminal Justice and Security, overseeing the College’s academic standards and the development of programs and curriculum.
