Employees Putting Data at Risk: Endpoint Security Can Help

Research released earlier this year from SONY VAIO in their Digital Business Report 2013 shows that employees are acting carelessly with corporate data and corporate devices, putting business "at risk from a ticking data security tomb bomb."

The report reveals some startling figures about the carelessness of employees while also highlighting that organizations do not have appropriate technologies in place to prevent this risky behavior:

• 90% of employees in the UK have accessed company data from a personal device (even when against corporate policy)
• 66% of employees admitted to saving confidential business data on their personal devices
• 66% of employees take their work laptop home with them every day
• 25% of UK businesses had a laptop lost or stolen in the last 12 months. Work laptops are twice as likely to be stolen as personal ones.
• The top locations for laptop loss and theft are: the train, peoples homes, airports
• 7% of people have even asked a stranger to keep an eye on their laptop while they went to bathroom
• 72% of business laptops do not have anti-theft security as standard
• 48% of respondents identify the loss of confidential company data as the top concern

As the survey indicated, most organizations were not taking any steps to protect corporate devices and the data they contain. Although the report seemingly blames BYOD practices and a rebel workforce for many of these security risks, the truth is that organizations can take hold of most of these risks by implementing stronger data access controls and a proactive endpoint security solution.

Absolute Computrace allows organizations to persistently track and secure all of their endpoints within a single cloud-based console. Computers and ultra-portable devices can be remotely managed and secured to ensure and prove that endpoint IT compliance processes are properly implemented and enforced. With Absolute Computrace, it's easy to enforce BYOD policies and to know if and when a device may be lost or stolen, allowing for immediate action such as data delete, locking and tracking.

Although Absolute Computrace can't stop your employees from risky behavior such as leaving devices unattended (that's where ongoing security training comes in), we can help you if that device ends up stolen! Learn more here.