Tuesday, May 24, 2011

CyLab Researchers Analyze Trends in McAfee Mobility and Security Report

CyLab Researchers Analyze Trends in McAfee Mobility and Security Report

“Mobility and Security: Dazzling Opportunities, Profound Challenges” is McAfee's first comprehensive report on the security of mobile devices in businesses worldwide. In collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University CyLab, McAfee took a hard look at the topic of mobile security and the consumerization of IT. The global report explores issues in mobility and security from two perspectives—that of the company’s senior IT professional and the general end users of mobile devices in the workplace. The findings indicates that while an increasing number of consumers use mobile devices for both business and personal activities, large numbers are not familiar with their employer’s corporate policy on the use of mobile devices.

Written by Richard Power, CyLab Distinguished Fellow, the reports features the commentary of seven CyLab researchers:

The online surveys were administered by international research firm Vanson Bourne. More than 1500 respondents from 14 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the U.K., and the U.S., participated in the survey.

Key findings in the mobile report:

  • Almost seven in 10 organizations are more reliant on mobile devices than they were 12 months ago
  • Sixty-three percent of devices on the network are also used for personal activities
  • Four in 10 organizations have had mobile devices lost or stolen and half of lost/stolen devices contain business critical data
  • More than a third of mobile device losses have had a financial impact on the organization
  • Fewer than half of device users back up their mobile data more frequently than on a weekly basis
  • About half of device users keep passwords, pin codes or credit card details on their mobile devices
  • One in three users keep sensitive work-related information on their mobile devices
  • Ninety-five percent of organizations have policies in place in regard to mobile devices
  • Only one in three employees are very aware of their company’s mobile security policies

Key trends in the mobile report:

  • Consumeriziation of IT is here.
  • An increasing number of consumers use mobile devices for both business and personal activities.
  • There is a serious disconnect between businesses and mobile users. While an increasing number of consumers use mobile devices for both business and personal activities, large numbers are not familiar with their employer’s corporate policy on the use of mobile devices.
  • Loss or theft of a device are biggest concerns of both users and IT directors.
  • Lost and stolen mobile devices are seen as the greatest security concern in the mobile computing environment.

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