Smartphones now a greater security risk than laptops

Here we go again: a new survey about security and devices that is brought to you by a company with a vested interest in providing companies security for their devices. Nevertheless, it’s probably true that if you’re using a Blackberry cell phone, Windows Mobile phone or other smartphone for your work, you’re not using the same kinds of password protection you have for your company laptop.

Credant, which provides “endpoint data security and encryption software,” surveyed 300 IT managers and found that most of them saw phones and PDA’s as bigger security threats than company-issued laptops. The key is that most phones and devices have access to the same networks – and valuable company information – as computers, but the IT managers surveyed said most employees aren’t using the encryption available to protect them. No reasons were given as to why this wasn’t happening, but no doubt all it takes is for one smartphone to get left in an airport bar, and that soon-to-be-former employee will be suddenly reminded of the need for phone locking and passwords.

Microsoft Exchange offers a remote wipe feature for the security-challenged employee, and no doubt other mobile OS providers will be sending out notes to IT managers highlighting the safety features of their products. And if companies believe mobile employees are the future of the enterprise, then enterprising companies should redouble security training efforts.

Via [Mobile Crunch]