Security Concerns Threaten Rollout of Mobile Tech9 April 2006
News Release
Security Concerns Threaten EnterpriseRollout of Mobile Technology
Symantec Global Survey Findsthat Businesses are Slow to Deploy Mobile Security
Security concerns are the biggest obstacle to thewidespread adoption of wireless and remote computing inbusinesses worldwide today, according to a global survey bythe Economist Intelligence Unit, sponsored by Symantec Corp(Nasdaq: SYMC). More than 60 percent of companies areholding back on deployment, citing security concerns. Closeto 47 percent of respondents cite cost and complexity as amajor obstacle to deployment. All the while, almost one infive businesses has already experienced financial loss dueto attacks via mobile data platforms.
The EconomistIntelligence Unit s research highlights serious weaknessesin firms present security arrangements for mobile devices.While 82 percent of businesses worldwide indicate that theysee the damage from virus attacks as the same or greater ona mobile network than on a fixed network, only 26 percenthave actually assessed security risks of smart phones,compared with 81 percent of enterprises conducting securityassessments for laptops. Despite the proliferation ofmobile devices used in the enterprise, only 9 percent ofcompanies have incorporated a comprehensive securityarchitecture designed to include mobile device access. Ofthe rest, 10 percent of companies have no measures foraddressing mobile security, 39 percent are granting mobiledevices access to corporate networks on an ad hoc basis andanother 39 percent are integrating mobile devices into theirexisting fixed network security architecture.
"It sprudent for enterprises to gain experience in mobiledeployments and security before a serious attack makes itmandatory and time critical," said Paul Miller, directormobile and wireless solutions, Symantec Corporation. "Intoday s enterprise, there are multiple end points to accountfor -- and proper protection cannot be tackled with aone-size-fits-all approach. While most enterprises areaware of the risks introduced with mobility, they continueto lack the appropriate security measures and policiesrequired to protect themselves from potentialthreats."
The Economist Intelligence Unit surveyed morethan 240 global company executives and conducted a number ofin-depth interviews with executives across a range ofindustries to explore awareness of the security risksassociated with the widespread adoption of mobile datasolutions. The research also looked at business readinessto respond should a security threat be realised. Regionalresponses were aligned on a number of matters, with regionalcontrast strongest around security risk assessment onspecific devices and security software deployment. Forexample, 55 percent of Western European businesses havedeployed security software to protect mobile data, comparedto 44 percent in Asia-Pacific and just 36 percent in NorthAmerica.
"Security is the one particular issue thatcontinues to impede the widespread adoption of mobilecomputing in the workplace and if it continues to beoverlooked there is a danger that some businesses will missthe advantages mobility can bring to their workforces," saidGareth Lofthouse, director of custom research, EconomistIntelligence Unit.
The Symantec Internet SecurityThreat Report Volume IX, published in March 2006,highlighted that malicious code targeting mobile devices,particularly smart phones, continued to grow through thesecond half of 2005. The report also highlighted several newexamples of malicious code for smart phones includingCardtrp, which was the first cross-platform threat with theability to affect both Symbian and Windows operatingsystems. The end of 2005 also saw the emergence ofPbstealer, distributed as a file representing itself as aphone book utility for smart phones to entice a user todownload and execute it. Once a device has been compromisedby one of these Trojan horses, information such as theuser s phonebook, notepad, calendar and to-do list will betransmitted to Bluetooth-enabled devices that are withinrange. This may pose a serious breach of confidentiality ifa corporate device is compromised in this manner, assensitive contact information and appointments could beshared. The risks connected with mobile data will increaseas larger mobile networks become a more attractive targetfor cyber-criminals.
"A coherent strategy for mobilesecurity would work towards alleviating the concerns of manyenterprises. Companies can begin leveraging mobiletechnology as a competitive advantage by adding mobileprotection to 5 or 10 percent of their mobile workforce andheeding to best practices. This measured approach will helptremendously in preparing for major deployment," saidMiller.
Symantec offers solutions to address wirelessdevices running on Symbian, Palm OS, Microsoft WindowsMobile and Pocket PC platforms. Symantec AntiVirus forHandhelds Corporate Edition 3.5 delivers a comprehensivevirus protection solution designed to secure corporateassets and protect against the potential spread of maliciouscode downloaded from the web, email or a Wi-Fi connection orbeamed via Bluetooth or infrared ports for devices runningon Palm OS, Microsoft Windows Mobile and Pocket PCplatforms. Symantec Mobile Security for Symbian offersreal-time automatic and on-demand scans to protect SymbianOS files on Series 60 and Series 80 smart phones.
AboutSymantec Symantec is the world leader in providingsolutions to help individuals and enterprises assure thesecurity, availability and integrity of their information. Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Symantec has operationsin more than 40 countries. More information is available atwww.symantec.com.
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