Leaving mobile security to chance

Mobile security

Barely a week goes by without news surfacing of a data leak due to a lack of mobile security. So why is this still happening? Why is there still news of USB sticks containing sensitive information being lost and stolen?

As threats to corporate data grow, and the cost of breaches increases, a survey of alleged security conscious professionals has revealed that 52 percent of respondents, who admit to carrying company data on a USB stick, do not encrypt it. Remarkably, 11 percent of this audience, who really should know better, 'protect' their devices with passwords alone - an insufficient defence that is widely understood to be easily breached.

The study, sponsored by Credant Technologies - the market leader in endpoint data protection solutions - questioned 277 IT security professionals who, theoretically, view security seriously enough to spend time attending InfoSecurity Europe. Astonishingly, the type of unprotected data being carried would have serious repercussions to the organisation should it be misplaced - from intellectual property (67 percent), customer data (40 percent) and employee details (26 percent).

Failing mobile security

Data transported on any unencrypted mobile device - such as laptops, handheld devices, smartphones, USB drives, CD-DVDs and other devices, are the equivalent of ticking time bombs waiting to blow up in the organisation's face - with mandatory audits, breach notifications, hefty fines and public humiliation likely to ensue.

For organisations, there's no excuses for a slip in mobile security. Organisations can easily arm themselves utilising centrally-managed solutions that provide data-centered, policy-based protection across all endpoints, which simply won't allow information to be transferred without first encrypting it - regardless of the device it's being transferred to.

Sean Glynn, vice president and chief marketing officer of Credant Technologies said, "If over half of this IT savvy audience are carrying unprotected sensitive information on USB sticks, and lets face it you can pick one up for less than GBP£10 in most good supermarkets, it makes me question just how big this problem is and, more importantly, what needs to happen to make organisations wake up to the risk. Credant won't rest on its laurels and as long as there are new devices coming into the arena, and new threats to protect them against, we'll continue to work with organisations to deliver flexible solutions that track and report on where sensitive data is moving, and provide the right blend of data encryption and protection technologies to mitigate these risks."

The study also found that 11 percent of the sample had experienced a breach recently, a figure that Credant hopes one day to be 0 percent.

Jodie Humphries

Jodie Humphries graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA Hons in Creative Writing in 2008. She has worked for GDS Publishing for the digital group since July 2009. She has previous experience with writing for the web, running her own website since April 2007.

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