Embracing BYOD: Mobile challenge

Apprehensions live on

According to IBM's “2011 X-Force Trend and Risk Report,” mobile threats are at the forefront of criminal trends. The study examined public vulnerability disclosures from more than 4,000 clients last year. Although there is progress being made against cyber threats, according to the study, attackers adapt quickly to the seemingly ubiquitous reliance on mobile devices. As a result, these tools are fast becoming a major target.

For instance, McAfee's “2012 Threats Predictions” reports that this year is expected to see miscreants all over the world continuing to improve their cyber attacks on mobile devices. 

Security professionals are well aware of the rise in mobile malware, says Caleb Barlow, director of application, data and mobile security for IBM. The biggest concern he hears from customers is the lack of visibility of what's actually going on in a particular employee-owned device.

“I think this will be largely regulated by the speed in which we find ways to secure the applications,” Barlow says. “If we can secure the applications, even if the device is stolen or hacked, then people will have less of an issue with BYOD.”

When it comes to the benefits of BYOD adoption in today's enterprise, cost savings along with an increase in employee productivity are two of the characteristics most commonly mentioned. However, Barlow says workers who are able to bring in the latest technology can offer the business a real competitive advantage.

“These things foster innovation,” he says. “By having a culture that is heterogeneous, we're facilitating a whole market here for innovation opportunity.”

[An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that there were over 100,000 employees at Cisco, when there are actually 65,223].