InformationWeek 2014 Mobile Security SurveyResearch Findings

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It's not that smartphone and tablet hardware is disposable, exactly. But it's not nearly as important to the 371 business technology professionals responding to our 2014 InformationWeek Mobile Security Survey as the data in device memory. 

Securing company data residing on mobile devices is rated very important by 68%, 21 points ahead of securing devices themselves using antivirus/anti-malware or MDM client software, and 72% say their top mobile security concern is data loss due to lost or stolen devices. Other data points from our survey:

>> 50% allow all corporate-owned devices to access social media sites and use related apps; 31% limit that access to certain departments. Just 19% ban it completely.

>> 46% feel only moderately confident that their mobile security controls are effective at protecting data.

>> 40% worry about users forwarding corporate data to cloud-based storage services

Respondent breakdown: Respondents screened in by indicating involvement with mobile device management, policy development, and/or security at their organizations. Forty-one percent have 5,000 or more employees; 28% are over 10,000. Government, financial services, and healthcare are well-represented, and 36% are IT director/manager or IT executive management (C-level/VP) level.

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Executive Summary

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Top Concern: Stolen Devices

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Top priority: securing company data on mobile devices

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Nearly half report missing devices

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Most did not require public disclosure

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Secure corporate data on mobile device top reason for policy

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Many companies allow personal mobile devices for work

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Personal device policies vary

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Do companies reimburse device purchases?

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Do companies reimburse monthly phone bill?

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More company-supplied devices on corporate network

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Data storage on company-provided mobile device

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Data storage on personal mobile device

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Personal apps allowed on company-owned device?

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Personal apps on personal device that accesses network?

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Who’s responsible for mobile security policy?

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Does security training include mobile use?

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Most are confident of security controls

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Authentication: username/password most common

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Passwords: more than half require frequent changes

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Data in transit: VPN secure tunnel most common

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Most corporate devices allow public wireless access

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Half allow all corporate devices to access social media

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Data encryption methods vary

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Why no encryption?

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Govt. agencies: Is data classified?

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Govt. agencies: data leak prevention used?

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Govt. policies: internal vs. federal/state requirements

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Govt.: most users do not circumvent security controls

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Govt.: Do users carry multiple devices?

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Job titles: most are IT managers/staff

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Wide range of industries

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Annual revenues vary

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Many large companies

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Survey Name InformationWeek 2014 Mobile Security Survey

Survey Date March 2014

Region North America

Number of Respondents 371

Purpose To examine mobile security technology trends and strategies

Methodology InformationWeek surveyed business technology decision-makers involved with mobile device management, policy development, and/or security at North American companies. The survey was conducted online, and respondents were recruited via an email invitation containing an embedded link to the survey. The email invitation was sent to qualified InformationWeek subscribers.

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Research Synopsis

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