UK SMBs are failing to screen in-house or externally
purchased mobile devices and laptops for potential security threats
according to new research from SonicWALL.
This is worrying news given that traditionally
SMBs have been big targets for electronic attackers and
especially so given that SMBs are increasingly seeing the
advantages of
using mobile computing technology to deliver business benefits.
In addition SMBs are also increasingly permitting their employees
to make use of their own mobile business technology such as
smartphones and netbooks.
In its survey, the security appliance provider found that
almost half (46%) of UK SMBs granted permission to employees to
access their corporate network using personal devices.
Yet only 39% of smartphones, 44% of netbooks and 59% of laptops
that see use in mobile business applications were screened by SMBs'
security technology before they are allowed to connect to corporate
networks.
Upping the risk factor furthermore, the SMBs regarded such
mobile computing devices as intrinsically much more secure when
compared to other commonly used technologies, such as USB sticks.
Two-fifths believed the greatest IT security threat to their
business would originate from USB sticks.
By comparison, only 20% regarded laptops as posing the greatest
problem, 13% smartphones and just 2% netbooks.
The research has exposed a exposed a significant gap in
awareness, warned Florian Malecki, Product Marketing Manager
SonicWALL EMEA. “By not seeing potential problems, [SMBs] therefore
aren’t
taking the right precautions to ensure these devices are
secure. But as sales of netbooks and smartphones continue to surge
– and the range of devices (with varying levels of reliability and
security) increases, we feel that screening is still absolutely
necessary”.