There are few things that cause IT departments more unrest than proper security. With the digital age making technology a more crucial part of business, it is imperative that companies ensure their network and applications are secure. One of the major challenges that IT personnel face is the growing bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend.
Since 2009, BYOD strategies have grown in popularity and become a major player in the corporate world. The functionality of smartphones and tablets has brought a new dimension to business workflow. Companies are saving money by not spending on hardware and allowing IT departments to focus on other business needs like network security.
According to a recent infographic released by Rapid7 – a vulnerable management and penetration tester – 59 percent of companies currently support a BYOD strategy and by 2016 there will be 1.62 billion mobile devices in the workplace.
Mobile devices in the workplace are currently made up of 80 percent employee-owned gadgets. However, only 35 percent of companies in the U.S. have created an acceptable BYOD strategy.
With these devices holding critical business data, companies need to be sure that their network is secure. Unfortunately, according to the study, 71 percent of businesses surveyed said mobile devices have caused an increase in security incidents. On top of that, 51 percent of businesses have experienced some kind of data loss from employee use of unsecured mobile devices. That number makes sense as the survey also found that 59 percent of organizations report that employees circumvent or disengage security features.
Companies need to ensure that their network and cabling solutions can handle mobile devices. IT consulting firms like CTI Technology can ensure businesses are ready for the digital age.
