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50% of European SMEs say data security is a major barrier

Security raises concerns with half of SMEs saying data security is the major barrier between their organisation and the digital workplace. Another 30 percent believe cost is the key issue.

 

Aruba conducted a study of over 500 SMEs across Europe and discovered that 66 percent of SME senior management believe that optimising the cloud, applications and mobile devices is a strategic priority. In spite of this, 50 percent of all organisations have no foreseeable plans to implement such a strategy.

 

A quarter of SMEs are already digital as 26 percent of respondents plan to invest in the digital workplace over the next year. Moreover, 30 percent are investing in technology designed to optimise the mobile workforce while another 20 percent have plans to make similar purchases.

 

The number one reason given for investing in the mobile workplace is to achieve a growth in productivity, efficiency and flexibility, followed by the better access and sharing of data and improved team collaboration.

 

SME respondents recognise the need to deploy better security policies and for IT departments to establish control of all devices being used for work. To understand how to achieve this, 85 percent have intentions of seeking the advice of a local IT partner for expert support – the number one strategy that SMEs plan to adopt in pursuit of the digital workplace.

 

SMEs are embracing the digital workplace are reaping the benefits, but it's a tough ask for any IT manager to marry the ambitions of senior management with their limited budgets and perceived security concerns. Local IT partners have a huge opportunity to become trusted advisors that can help SMEs overcome these challenges, helping them to implement digital and mobile technologies that can improve business productivity, enhance customer experience and achieve increased revenues,” said Chris Kozup, VP marketing at Aruba.

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