The study, a 43-question survey with 523 organizational respondents, was conducted in summer 2010 and the results were released in November.

Approximately one in four organizations block access to social networks but they experience little or no benefit to their security landscape. In fact, blocking access may have negative repercussions.

Social networking has become so ingrained in the public consciousness in recent years that employees may try to circumvent internal security practices in order to access their favourite social network sites, said Yogen Appalraju, vice-president, Telus Security Solutions.

Some of those that aren’t able to access these sites on their corporate networks will turn to other means, such as viewing them on personal smart phone devices.

Established social networking sites don’t inherently pose a security risk, said Ben Sapiro, research director, security practices, Telus Security Labs — it’s how they are used. The key to safe use of social networks is education, he said. Currently, the biggest threats posed by social networks are employees who either by accident or through carelessness reveal sensitive data that could negatively impact their employer or say something that could damage their employer’s reputation.