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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
Survey Uncovers Enterprise IT Security Concerns Over Mobile Hotspots
Aliso Viejo, CA - May 7, 2013 - Seventy-five percent of enterprise IT managers rank security as their main concern when it comes to mobile hotspot device usage among employees. These results are in stark contrast to consumer-focused survey data issued earlier this year that found only one-third of consumers are concerned with security of smartphone and other personal hotspots. Additionally, while 93 percent of companies surveyed are responsible for all or part of employee data plans, almost half of IT managers feel they do not have adequate control over employee hotspot devices. These results are from a new survey of 250 IT managers commissioned in April by Smith Micro Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMSI).
“While a growing number of consumers are embracing mobile hotspots and the advantages of multi-device connectivity, when these devices are introduced into the workplace, enterprise IT inherits the responsibility to make them secure,” said Doug Louie, senior director of product marketing at Smith Micro. “In addition to security risks, more than one-third of IT managers were concerned about the lack of control over hotspot policy management, which is needed to provide protection against data leakage and device misuse, as well as reducing the burden on technical support and training, saving companies a lot of time and money.”
Other results of the survey include:
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The majority of respondents (as high as 71 percent) noted employees currently use smartphone hotspots.
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Forty-seven percent of the IT managers not managing hotspot devices stated that security was their main concern. Surprisingly, cost associated with hotspot use was a lower concern at twelve percent.
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Almost a quarter of all IT managers (24 percent) have restrictions on mobile hotspot usage, but noted employees use them anyway.
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Forty-six percent of IT managers managing both dedicated hotspots and smartphone hotspots cited an increase in technical support calls and incidents since mobile hotspot environments were introduced into their companies.
Enterprise Hotspot Survey Webinar
Smith Micro will host a webinar with details from the survey on June 4, 2013, at 10:00 am Pacific time. Registration is available here: Enterprise Hotspot Webinar.
Industry Perspective
“Enterprises have tried to solve the mobile management dilemma by placing their attention on mobile devices and BYOD, but mobile management actually goes far beyond the device," said Mike Anderson, president and co-founder at Aragon Research, Inc. "Concern from IT managers around hotspot security is valid. To minimize risk, enterprises need to expand their attention to address mobile device security at the network layer along with apps and data."
“These survey results highlight a significant difference between the enterprise IT perspective and the end-user perspective on mobility: where consumers focus on usability and flexible purchase plans, IT requires more controls to reduce security risks and costs of ownership,” said Sunil Marolia, VP of product management at Smith Micro. “In order to maximize adoption and revenues from personal mobile hotspots, Smith Micro is helping operators and OEMs make personal hotspot devices easier for enterprises to secure and manage, while giving consumers the data and tools they need to easily connect all of their devices without breaking the bank on their data plans.”
For access to additional key findings from the survey, please visit findings.
About Smith Micro Software, Inc.
Smith Micro Software provides solutions that simplify, secure and enhance the mobile experience. Our portfolio includes a wide range of applications that manage broadband connectivity, data traffic, devices, voice and video communications over wireless networks. With 30 years of experience developing world-class client and server software, Smith Micro helps the leading mobile network operators, device manufacturers and enterprises increase efficiency and capitalize on the growth of mobile-connected consumers and workforces. For more information, visit smithmicro.com.
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