Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • Cybersecurity
    • IT Management
    • Mobile

    BYOD Users Threaten IT Security: Fortinet

    By
    Nathan Eddy
    -
    June 20, 2012
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      As the first wave of bring-your-own-device initiatives gains traction in the workplace, the first generation of BYOD participants could pose a serious risk to corporate IT networks, according to a survey from network security specialist Fortinet. The poll, conducted in 15 territories during May and June 2012, asked more 3,800 active employees in their 20s about their perspectives on BYOD, its impact on their work environment and their approach to personal and corporate IT security, and found one in three respondents said they would contravene a company€™s security policy that forbids them to use their personal devices at work or for work purposes.

      Survey results indicted the primary driver of the BYOD practice is that individuals can constantly access their preferred applications, especially social media and private communications, and this next generation of decision makers and managers is increasingly viewing the use of personal devices in the workplace as a right, rather than a privilege. Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of respondents across all territories already regularly engage in the practice, the study found.

      While 42 percent of the respondents believe potential data loss and exposure to malicious IT threats to be the dominant risk, suggesting the first generation of BYOD workers understands the risks BYOD poses by to their organizations, this risk awareness does not prevent those workers from bypassing corporate policies. India had the highest number of respondents who were willing to contravene a corporate policy banning the use of personally owned devices for work purposes, where 66 percent admitted they have or would do so.

      When it comes to policies banning the use of nonapproved applications, 30 percent said they would also contravene policy to use them, and 69 percent of respondents confirmed they are interested in “bring your own application” (BYOA), where users create and use their own custom applications at work. While this indicates other areas where organizations are at risk, two-thirds (66 percent) of respondents consider themselves€”not the company€”to be responsible for the security of the personal devices they use for work purposes.

      €œThe survey clearly reveals the great challenge faced by organizations to reconcile security and BYOD,€ Patrice Perche, vice president of international sales and support for Fortinet, said in a prepared statement. €œWhile users want and expect to use their own devices for work, mostly for personal convenience, they do not want to hand over responsibility for security on their own devices to the organization.

      “Within such an environment, organizations must regain control of their IT infrastructure by strongly securing both inbound and outbound access to the corporate network and not just implement mobile-device management, or MDM. Organizations cannot rely on a single technology to address the security challenges of BYOD. The most effective network security strategy requires granular control over users and applications, not just devices,€ Perche continued.

      Nathan Eddy
      A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan was perviously the editor of gaming industry newsletter FierceGameBiz and has written for various consumer and tech publications including Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, CRN, and The Times of London. Currently based in Berlin, he released his first documentary film, The Absent Column, in 2013.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×