Research in Applied Economics ISSN 1948-5433 2013, Vol. 5, No. 2 www.macrothink.org/rae 121 Perception of Information Security of Management of Banking and Insurance Companies in Countries of Western Balkans Edin Osmanbegović 1,* & Sejfudin Zahirović 1 1 Faculty of Economics, University of Tuzla, Univerzitetska 8, Tuzla 75000, Bosnia and Herzegovina *Corresponding author: Faculty of Economics, University of Tuzla, Univerzitetska 8, Tuzla 75000, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tel: 387-61-101-741 E-mail: edin.osmanbegovic@untz.ba Received: March 4, 2013 Accepted: June 6, 2013 Published: June 24, 2013 doi:10.5296/rae.v5i2.3348 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.5296/rae.v5i2.3348 Abstract In this paper it is described aspects of standardisation of information security and its implementation in banking and insurance companies in countries of Western Balkans. In terms of approaching the standards of EU, one of the areas that need to be fully justified is the information security. It has been identified and applied a new dual methodology which covers measurement of same variables of information security into two opposite populations. Authors identify banking and insurance sector as a key sector for research due to sensitivity of financial data and information that these companies work with. Key obstacles in implementation of information security come from managers who consider that existing level of information security is on much higher level than it actually is. The authors have identified intensity of perception of information security and gap in perception between managers of financial institutions and auditors, and rank of significant properties of information security. Factor analyses were conducted and four factors were identified which show managers’ perception of information security. Also, the authors have identified attributes of marketing aspects of information security and market potential of information security of banking and insurance sector in countries of Western Balkans. Keywords: information security; perception; managers; standardisation; Western Balkans