Survey: Small Businesses Ignore Risks of Data Protection on Mobile Devices

Mozy recently released the surprising results of a data protection survey. The survey, produced by Mozy and independent market research firm Compass Partners, LLC, found that an increasing number of professionals (80 percent) work remotely and rely on personal devices such as smartphones (63 percent), iPads (30 percent) and laptops (80 percent) to access company data. Despite the expectation that professionals with sensitive client data would understand the associated risks and responsibilities, the numbers reflect that many professionals working remotely, and their companies, are either unaware or too casual about how to keep this information safe and secure.

The study profiled several professions that routinely handle sensitive client information, including medical practices, legal, real estate, and financial service firms. It found that they were at even greater risk compared to generalized small and medium businesses to experience a significant loss of sensitive business information.

The survey found that while over two-thirds of all small-to-midsize businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees have a formal procedure for backing up company data, 87 percent have no formal policy in place regarding employees' use of personal devices for work purposes. One-third of companies let employees make their own decisions about how to back up company and client data on their devices, and most companies polled do not have backup or data recovery plans that meet modern standards for data protection. Forty-one percent of small businesses readily store and back up company data on portable USB devices – which may be used by family members, get lost, or even stolen.

Legal professionals trailed the field, with 78 percent of lawyers reporting they were either not at all concerned, not that concerned or only somewhat concerned about the security of their company data for employees using personal devices for work. While financial services and medical firms are more concerned about the security of their company data than companies in real estate, construction, and law, the majority (more than two-thirds) in each of those industries expressed a lack of concern for risk of loss and security of company data. This lack of discipline creates unnecessary risk in the protection of company and customer data. The numbers do not lie: very important people have very important data that should be better protected.

Without adequate backup and other data security policies, many businesses are ill prepared to protect company and customer data in the event of a hard drive crash, loss or theft. The survey shows that 30 percent of companies suffered a hard drive crash in the past year. In 70 percent of those cases, data was not fully recovered.

The risk of lost or stolen data is more serious than ever with changing work habits and more employees holding sensitive company data on personal devices. With the start of the new year's business travel season and a larger number than ever of professionals on the road, they carry sensitive company or client data with them on their laptops, tablets and smartphones.

The Mozy survey shows that one in nine businesses have experienced the theft of a laptop, and in 98 percent of such cases they were not able to recover all of the lost data.

While just over two-thirds of companies surveyed do have formal backup processes, most are using antiquated methods such as external hard drives with no online backup connection, or tape. Both are extremely susceptible to failure in the event of an on-site disaster.

Featured

  • Making the Grade with Locks and Door Hardware

    Managing and maintaining locks and door hardware across a school district or university campus is a big responsibility. A building’s security needs to change over time as occupancy and use demands evolve, which can make it even more challenging. Knowing the basics of common door hardware, including locks, panic devices and door closers, can make a difference in daily operations and emergency situations. Read Now

  • Choosing the Right Solution

    Today, there is a strong shift from on-prem installations to cloud or hybrid-cloud deployments. As reported in the 2024 Genetec State of Physical Security report, 66% of end users said they will move to managing or storing more physical security in the cloud over the next two years. Read Now

  • New Report Reveals Top Security Risks for U.S. Retail Chains

    Interface Systems, a provider of security, actionable insights, and purpose-built networks for multi-location businesses, has released its 2024 State of Remote Video Monitoring in Retail Chains report. The detailed study analyzed over 2 million monitoring requests across 4,156 retail locations in the United States from September 2023 to August 2024. Read Now

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions. 3

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis. 3

  • Luma x20

    Luma x20

    Snap One has announced its popular Luma x20 family of surveillance products now offers even greater security and privacy for home and business owners across the globe by giving them full control over integrators’ system access to view live and recorded video. According to Snap One Product Manager Derek Webb, the new “customer handoff” feature provides enhanced user control after initial installation, allowing the owners to have total privacy while also making it easy to reinstate integrator access when maintenance or assistance is required. This new feature is now available to all Luma x20 users globally. “The Luma x20 family of surveillance solutions provides excellent image and audio capture, and with the new customer handoff feature, it now offers absolute privacy for camera feeds and recordings,” Webb said. “With notifications and integrator access controlled through the powerful OvrC remote system management platform, it’s easy for integrators to give their clients full control of their footage and then to get temporary access from the client for any troubleshooting needs.” 3