Companies today are finding that the bring-your-own-device, or BYOD, to work trend is raising concerns related to data and where it is located. As apps and other mobile business tools become more prevalent, securing information has become a huge priority. While these concerns are the opinions of some small business owners, they are based on facts and trends.
Sanjeeve Aggarwal, co-founder and partner in the small business research house SMB Group, says, “The information security threat is becoming more important and complex as adoption of mobile devices and mobile applications increases rapidly. New types of security solutions are needed for mobile devices.”
The Vice President of Nucleas Research, Rebecca Wettemann predicts that this will lead to more restrictive BYOD policies that will limit the types of devices allowed to access the network at work. She suggests that businesses select just one or two approved devices, claiming that this will make security tracking and device-and-data recovery more manageable. Not only does it get more expensive with the more devices a company supports and secures, but the likelihood of a security breach caused by employee access goes up as well.
As for securing mobile apps, many app makers are expected to realize their products will not be tolerated in risk-averse business environments, and are likely to take steps on their own to secure their apps. Many experts say that companies should still crack down on app usage so that they don’t open themselves up to problems.
Many small businesses reportedly rely on the cloud for infrastructure. This positive trend lets them get up and running quickly for things such as email, storage, and file sharing. With that being said, small businesses are cautioned to carefully evaluate cloud providers, and understand how their data will be secured in this environment.
Reference:
Bernard, Allen “Top Small Business Security Trends for 2013” 1/3/13
