Abingdon, UK. 19 April – Despite more than three quarters (77 per cent) of IT managers saying their company has a security policy in place for the use of tablets and smartphones, IT professionals are still downloading unauthorised applications onto their devices, according to online research released today by Kaspersky Lab, Europe’s largest anti-malware company. 

The results suggests that while most companies are aware of the need for mobile device security and a robust code of practice for employees, a failure to effectively implement and manage such policies may be exposing the corporate network to viral attack and cybercrime. Kaspersky Lab is committed to help bridge the disconnect between business and personal devices by improving the management of UK businesses mobile security solutions.

“The growing trend towards using a single mobile device for both business and personal use can represent a significant security headache for companies, particularly when people start downloading potentially infected or insecure applications onto ‘authorised’ and network connected devices,” said Andrew Lintell, corporate sales director for UK and Ireland, Kaspersky Lab. “What UK businesses need is a better way of managing all devices”. 

The YouGov research conducted on behalf of Kaspersky Lab, interviewed more than 150 IT leaders across Britain, representing firms with 250 or more employees, found that one in four IT managers and directors (25%) have downloaded an application onto a mobile device provided for them by their organisation. 

Lintell continues: “We are devoted to helping businesses understand that while it is important to reduce its vulnerability to attack, it can also be easy. Our technology is similar to that of firewalls a few years ago, when everyone could see why they needed the solution but they were just too much hassle to manage, so no one bought them. Now they are far easier to manage, most UK businesses have them in place. We believe our solutions bring the same ease of use to mobile security solutions.”

“Mobile security is easy to implement but in a large organisation with many devices it can be very difficult to manage. Kaspersky’s ‘follow me’ approach to security helps improve the management of mobile security solutions while protecting all entry points and improving control. By employing a solution that fits the user rather than the user having to fit the solution, businesses are further minimising the risk. Kaspersky Lab’s solutions help the IT professional to manage a large number of devices and end points through one single management console.”

To learn more about what Kaspersky Lab will be discussing at InfoSec, please visit http://www.kaspersky.co.uk/infosec2011 and stop by and see us at Stand C41.

ENDS

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 155 middle managers and above in IT in firms with more than 249 employees. 79 per cent of respondents represented firms with 1,000 or more employees. Fieldwork was undertaken between 6 - 11 April 2011.  The survey was carried out online.