Wireless Security Survey Points to More Concern, Greater Security Risks For Mobile Devices

The at FierceWireless-Bluefire Wireless Security Survey indicates three out of five survey respondents thought their companies would be willing to pay more for wireless security if it were offered as part of a monthly service plan by a wireless carrier. Forty-three percent believed their organizations would pay more if security was provided by smartphone or wireless device manufacturers, while nearly half thought their companies would purchase more devices if security risks could be virtually eliminated.

"The survey results paint a very different and surprising picture within the industry," says Bluefire Security Technologies' CEO Mark Komisky.

"A year ago, the chief security concerns revolved around the potential loss or theft of smartphones and wireless devices, but the results of the FierceWireless-Bluefire Wireless Security Survey clearly paint a very different and more urgent story," Komisky notes. "As enterprises increasingly are using wireless devices to create and transmit new data and to access the most sensitive information sitting on their corporate servers, the risks are much greater, the stakes are much higher, and the potential loss is much more catastrophic."

"This data suggests that the next-step in the evolution of wireless security is for handset manufacturers and carriers to bundle security packages for both end users and enterprises. In doing so, they would not only be creating an important key differentiator, but also responding to a real concern and demand among users," says Kevin Burden, program manager for mobile devices services, for international analyst group IDC.

The nationwide, online survey of nearly 1,800 smartphone and wireless device users in healthcare, financial services, manufacturing, consumer products, professional services, technology, government, and the military was administered by online wireless publicationFierceWirelessand wireless security provider Bluefire Security Technologies.