A major data breach for Royal Dutch Shell plc has highlighted the importance of information security, IT contractors may be interested to discover.

Alan Phillips, chief executive officer at 7Safe, has claimed that key challenges these staff members will need to tackle are authentication methods and authorisation rights.

He stated that poorly-coded database applications also increase company vulnerabilities, which can include SQL injections.

"There is the trade-off between security and usability that needs to be weighed up. File security can be enhanced with encryption mechanisms," he added.

Mr Phillips claimed that key aspects which IT contractors working on firm security should examine include maintaining properly updated database logs, as these can help forensic investigators prepare information for any eventual court proceedings.

His comments follow an attack on Royal Dutch Shell's databases which has resulted in staff and contractor information being forwarded to lobbyists and activists opposed to the company's operations.