In the FierceWireless-Bluefire Wireless Security Survey, some 60 percent indicated that their companies would be willing to pay more for wireless security if it were offered as part of a monthly service plan by a wireless carrier. 43 percent indicated that their organizations would pay more if security was provided by smartphone or wireless device manufacturers, and nearly half indicated that their companies would purchase more devices if security risks could be virtually eliminated.
Other key findings include:
- More than 80 percent indicated that their organizations' use of handheld devices had increased over the past two years
- Aside from voice communications, top-ranked wireless applications included corporate email access and remote access to corporate networks
- Around 90 percent of respondents expressed concern about the security of email access to corporate server-based accounts and remote access to corporate networks
- Over 70 percent rated attacks on the corporate network and the security of data during transmission as their top security concerns
- Loss or theft of wireless devices third as a concern, at about 40 percent
"Clearly, users are no longer simply concerned they may lose their phone book contacts or their calendars," said Bluefire CEO Mark Komisky. "They are concerned for and about their companies and their customers -- concerns which should translate into their companies' adoption of more sophisticated wireless security protections, including firewalls and VPNs."
The nationwide on-line survey was conducted among subscribers to
FierceWireless and its sister online publication,
IT-Wireless throughout April, as well as among attendees at the
SmartPhone Summit and CTIA, also in April, Bluefire said. According to Bluefire, the nearly 1800 respondents represented a range of industry sectors, including telecommunications (34 percent), IT/technology (22 percent), professional services (11 percent), financial services (6 percent), manufacturing (6 percent), as well as consumer products, healthcare, education, and government, both military and non-military.
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