SMEs: smartphones ever-growing but weakly secure

They are provided by the Directorate or by the employees themselves (BYOD), the use of smartphones in French companies, including SMEs, is now massive.

According to a study by YouGov for Citrix, 49% of French SMEs provide smartphones and 48% of computer devices such as laptops, ultraportables and tablet. These SMEs, yet often presented as behind the use of new technologies, are at the forefront of these uses because according to the same study, these rates are 33 and 38% in the other countries of Europe and the world.
The study highlights that this trend is the result of pressure from employees "seeking more flexible and more mobile working conditions" (sic). Without wanting to argue about this supposed will of employees wanting to work everywhere and all the time (especially at home)..., it appears that 55% of the surveyed SMEs reported that their employees already use their personal devices for business purposes, while 15% would like to do the same but do not have the opportunity.

38% of the concerned SMEs, but...

If the penetration of smartphones in these companies is strong, accompanying measures are inversely proportional. Only 26% have strict policies and devices in the area, couples to ad hoc computer systems to manage personal devices of employees used for professional purposes.

Remember that Citrix provides precisely fleet (RMD) management tools and therefore relies on this study to enhance its solutions... Rest that this equipment is particularly low while the danger is known: 38% of French SMEs are particularly concerned at the idea of allowing access to their network (against 27% all countries together).

"Although SMEs French fear is to expose, it is worrying to note that almost three quarters undertakings have still not the tools and process to automatically clear their sensitive data contained on employees personal devices, if they were to be lost or stolen", laments Robert Gratzl, CEO, vice-president and DG EMEA, of the online Citrix services division.

Enough to give grain to grind to the litany of actors who now offer solutions dedicated to these issues. Citrix, it said, but also operators, giants such as IBM and SAP services and even the manufacturers of devices such as Blackberry and Samsung.

Remember that Anssi, the National Agency for the security of information systems, advises a recent note companies to accept the use of personal smartphones in a pro environment because "current security solutions are ineffective".