Sophos Survey: Mobile Workforce Stressing SMB Security

SMBs face rising challenges when it comes to integrating the demands of an increasingly mobile workforce into aging IT infrastructure, according to a survey by security specialist Sophos.

As the bring your own device (BYOD) trend gains momentum, 93 percent of SMBs are integrating remote working policies into their security provision and 52 percent are expecting to improve security precautions to mitigate additional risks posed by remote working, according to the survey, titled, “The Future of Network Security.”

While there is a clear interest in boosting workforce mobility, the survey suggests small businesses do not have adequate security infrastructure in place. More than a fifth (21 percent) of survey respondents said they lack confidence in their security, and 39 percent said they are worried about sophisticated threats.

Aging security infrastructure (34 percent of respondents have had their network firewall for five or more years) and management of mobile devices were among the top concerns of SMB IT departments — one in five of those surveyed had been infected by malware that brought down their network within the last 12 months.

The results suggest across-the-board security improvements need to made by SMBs, and the concerns are top of mind, with 39 percent of respondents concerned about managing mobile devices.

Although technologies such as cloud computing can offer solutions for mobile device management (MDM) and network security, 44 percent of respondents cited the growing need to use cloud-based services as a “major concern.”

However, the survey also indicated SMBs are shifting resources to make investments in security, with 70 percent of companies planning boost their IT security budgets, citing virtualization, cloud computing, and improvements to the wireless network as top areas for improvement.