Nearly 40% Of Organizations With Mobile Devices Say They Need More Security For Them

New IBM report highlights shift in endpoint security within the enterprise

A new IBM report found that more than 70 percent of organizations are allowing nontraditional endpoint devices -- think smartphones, iPads, and point-of-sale devices -- to connect to their corporate networks, but some 36 percent say these devices arent properly secured.
Marc van Zadelhoff, director of strategy for IBM security solutions, says the survey it commissioned Zogby International to conduct of around 300 IT decision-makers on their companies endpoint security initiatives demonstrates how IT just cant say no anymore to traditionally consumer devices in the workplace. Its BYOT -- bring your own technology, van Zadelhoff says. A lot of times whats driving this is they cant say no because the first person who brings them to work is one of the senior executives: They got an iPad for Christmas and want it connected. A security professional cant say no to an [executive].
So now organizations are scrambling to secure the devices, he says.
IBM found that 90 percent of the respondents are actively investing in endpoint security, and 80 percent say their organizations plans to add new endpoints to the network this year. Around 72 percent say PCs and laptops are the biggest threats when it comes to endpoints in the organization, but they say smartphones and tablet computers are a growing threat.
Meanwhile, some 33 percent say their biggest security worry is that they dont have visibility into all of their endpoints.
With this proliferation of nontraditional devices, IBM pointed to estimates of 1 trillion connected devices by 2015. The blurring of personal life and work life is occurring, van Zadelhoff says.
Van Zadelhoff says the mobile endpoint explosion has benefited from the PCs security problems. Weve seen this movie before, so people are more prepared. We are starting to see serious solutions, he says. The next cycle will be smart meters, PoS, scanners, and hospital equipment.
IBMs survey found that 40 percent of the respondents plan to invest more in security to manage and protect those nontraditional endpoint devices. And while the initial security woes will be lost or stolen devices reminiscent of the laptop, exploits wont be far behind.
Meanwhile, IBM and Trend Micro announced a smartphone partnership where Trend will integrate Trends cloud-based anti-malware solution with IBMs new Tivoli Endpoint Management platform. This will give organizations visibility, security, and management of these mobile devices.
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Nearly 40% Of Organizations With Mobile Devices Say They Need More Security For Them