Tablets, mostly Apple (AAPL) iPad2‘s are leading organizations into the cosumerization of IT. Tablets are forcing IT managers to accept the idea of supporting employee-owned devices. Many organizations are struggling on how to secure the data on these consumer devices. eWeek recently pointed out data from Harris Interactive and Fuzebox which says that tablet users are transferring sensitive information at a greater rate than even smartphone owners. Harris Interactive polled 2,300-plus adults polled in late-January 2011.
Almost half (48%) of tablet owners in the survey admitted to using their tablet to transfer sensitive data
- 42% of the surveyed said they transfer sensitive personal data on their tablets
- 20% of tablet owners said they transfer sensitive data for business use,
According to Harris, the survey found results to skew according to age and gender.
- 47& of men are confident in the security of the data transferred over their smartphone or tablet
- 34& of are women are confident in the security of the data transferred over their smartphone or tablet
Younger adults are more likely they were to transfer sensitive data via a tablet:
- 61% of those surveyed ages 18-34 transfer sensitive data on their tablet;
- 56% of those surveyed ages 35-44;
- 33% of those surveyed ages 45-5 4;
- 20% of those 55+ (20%) to use it to transfer sensitive data.
Not many users are confidence in mobile security
- 18% are extremely/very confident in the security of the data transferred over their device(s).
- 15% are not at all confident in the security of the data transferred over their device(s).
Wh
ile the Apple iPad controls the bulk of the tablet market where security is a concern, the advantage may go to Research In Motion (RIMM) says eWeek. The article cites data from Technology Business Research which is also studying enterprise use of tablets, and some of the initial findings show that these users continue to believe that RIM devices are the most secure. The news could be a boon for RIM according to the author, at least in the short-term. The BlackBerry maker is expected to release its PlayBook tablet by the summer, and is aiming it at the enterprise. However, lurking in the background is Apple, which dominates the tablet space with its iPad and is growing its reputation for secure products.”IT departments like the ability to manage the devices and data on the devices remotely, including the ability to control access and to securely wipe the devices if they’re lost or stolen,” TBR analyst Ken Hyers told eWEEK. “RIM has succeeded in establishing a high threshold in what is expected from an enterprise-class device in terms of security.”
“RIM’s reputation for security will give it a near-term advantage and help it sell more PlayBooks directly to the enterprise,” Mr. Hyers added. “But over time that advantage will steadily erode.
“From a smartphone vendor standpoint, Apple is establishing its own reputation as a secure device, though not up to the level of RIM,” Mr. Hyers told eWeek. “Apple (and Android mobile devices) also have a distinct edge in usability and appeal; they’re simply easier to use and more fun to use.” Where this becomes a problem for RIM is when businesses let their employees choose the mobile devices they use, as they tend to go for the “sexier” ones, he explained.
rb-
I have been a Blackberry users for 7+ years, but I have wonder if RIMM gets “it” anymore. Is RIMM going to turn into the Novell of the mobile market? A technically better product, but never able to close the deal, getting left in the wake of pretty shiny objects over substance. Given the increasingly crowded market RIMM operates in, the company is facing the same challenges as Novell.
Engadget points us to phone-size.com that lets you compare the relative proportions of different smartphones. At the top of the webpage, you’ll also find a toolbar to enter the size and aspect ratio of your display. Once you jump through this minor hoop, according to Engadget, the utility produces accurate, life-size depictions of smartphones like Apple’s (AAPL) iPhones, Google’s (GOOG) Androids and Research In Motion’s (RIMM) Blackberrys.
1. Only buy apps from recognized app stores. Apps from unofficial third-party stores and applications downloaded from peer-to-peer sites are much more likely to contain malware than apps sanctioned by official vendor stores such as the 
3. Monitor bills for irregular charges. If attackers gain access to personal information stored on the mobile device, they can quickly rack up charges by sending “silent” text messages to high-priced call services. For example, if the 
5. Be mindful that more and more employees bring their personal devices to work. Companies must have security systems and policies in place to safeguard their business environment and prevent access to company networks from employees’ personal devices. I wrote about 
The prognosticators at research firm 
