Security Issues to Escalate as BYOD Trend Continues
A new report from Juniper Research has found that the number of employee owned smartphones and tablets used in the enterprise will more than double by 2014, reaching 350 million by 2017, compared to almost 150 million this year. This represents almost 23 percent of the total installed base of consumer owned tablets and smartphones.
BYOD Trend Grows
The BYOD concept has been a growing trend for some years now as employees become more accustomed to using their own mobile computing devices in their jobs, and accessing corporate assets. The rapid adoption of high-end smartphones and tablets including iPhones, iPads and Android devices along with the number of easily accessible apps is driving this concept forward. Cloud-based services, accessible from almost anywhere, are also a key factor.
Security Risks
The ‘Mobile Security Strategies: Threats, Solutions & Market Forecasts 2012-2017’ report found that whilst this trend can bring productivity benefits to businesses, it also poses potential security risks. In particular, the report found that the majority of employee’s phones and smart devices did not have any form of security software loaded nor were company materials protected. The new report provides detailed assessments of the mobile security threat and the growing market for security solutions.
Report author Nitin Bhas observed “While BYOD has become an ‘inevitable’ trend for the enterprise, businesses need to create new end-user IT policies and address the key security issues emerging. New device management policies and security measures need to be put in place”.
Other key findings include:
The public sector will be late adopters of the BYOD in the market.
Western Europe will account for the highest number of consumer owned devices within the enterprise.
The ‘Mobile Security ~ Safe and Secure Devices’ whitepaper is available to download from the Juniper website together with further details of the full report.
Juniper Research provides research and analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, providing consultancy, analyst reports and industry commentary.