Up to 30% of staff would take company data with them when they left a firm, according to a survey from identity management company SailPoint.

SailPoint commissioned Harris Interactive to question 1,594 staff and contractors in the US and the UK about their attitudes towards accessing and viewing company-owned data.

The survey found that 29% of US staff and 23% of UK staff openly admitted they would take customer data with them when they left. In addition, 15% (US) and 17% (UK) would take product information, including designs and plans.

"Companies should be gravely concerned with these survey responses," said Jackie Gilbert, vice president of marketing and co-founder at SailPoint. "I believe the survey illustrates that many employees may not believe that taking company data is equivalent to stealing. It highlights what I call a 'moral grey area' around ownership of electronic data."