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Posted on August 7th, 2012 in Internet Safety, Privacy by Simply Security | Be the first to comment | Tags: Internet Safety, Privacy

Not all IT departments have endpoint security systems in place to protect from all this remote private access. This could spell disaster for corporations in terms of attacks on data and maintaining business continuity.

The popularity of personal computing devices like smartphones, tablets and laptop PCs has trickled into the enterprise and become a way for businesses of all sizes to deploy mobile strategies at a minimal price. Rather than purchasing new equipment to expand mobile and remote workforce, companies simply institute a BYOD (bring your own device) strategy and tell employees to log in and perform job functions with technology they already own.

The problem, according to Gartner, is that not all IT departments have endpoint security systems in place to protect from all this remote private access. This could spell disaster for corporations in terms of attacks on data and maintaining business continuity.

Prominent problems

Not long ago, Mitt Romney's private email account became public domain after a hacker was able to access the account through a password exploit according to Computer World. This was not only embarrassing to the former governor but could have put his campaign in danger, as well as personal data belonging to himself and other people he's been in contact with via that account. The news source reported that, around the same time, IBM's BYOD program began a blackout of online file sharing and email programs for the same reason Romney's files were compromised – data protection.

"IBM has the world's biggest BYOD program," said IT executive Dion Hinchcliffe. He told Computer World in an interview that the technology leader had excluded Dropbox, Evernote and all similar program in order to ensure vital corporate information could not be leaked through these sources either by external attacks or internal rancor. He said, "Cloud data centers are becoming high-value targets. There's a lot of temptation."

Strengthening security

Gartner's study shows that IT professionals still have room for improvement when it comes to endpoint security. If businesses can't find ways to block employee access to file sharing and potentially dangerous online resources from personal devices with shared workplace applications, they should focus on protecting their assets from the inside.

The study found companies were already shifting focus to build up server security and meet demand for BYOD initiatives half-way. Gartner's director, Chae-Gi Lee, said businesses should focus on internal network safety and firewalls to protect their data, as the proliferation of mobile technology should be embraced rather than shunned as a work tool. This means that, even though corporations won't have to spend money buying new devices, it will cost IT time and money to safeguard data from intrusions thanks to BYOD.

Internal affairs

The allure for the value of corporate secrets isn't the only thing that has companies suspicious of online service providers and BYOD security. According to Channel Partners, younger workers who are more likely to have personal computing devices companies can benefit from are also more likely to use these services. Worst of all, their sense of entitlement toward these devices could result in malicious leaks.

Channel Partners said that, according to a Fortinet study, one-third of workers in their 20s are more than willing to ignore data security protocols when using personal devices just because they want to. While the data verified that BYOD is a trend workers intend to rely on heavily as their careers move forward, the sense of entitlement could spell trouble for business continuity and file safety.

Protecting from a variety of threats personal mobile technology can introduce will mean increased spending for data security measures. It's up to individual businesses to determine if these costs and concerns outweigh the savings and benefits of BYOD.