Juniper Networks released findings today from its first Trusted Mobility Index, which found the vast majority of people are using mobile technology today that they do not necessarily trust, and using it for business purposes without their companies knowledge. The global survey of 4,037 mobile device users and IT decision-makers found mobile technology adoption is outpacing confidence.
According to the survey, individuals are using more mobile devices, applications, services and networks than ever before and they are accessing critical personal and professional information while “on the go.”
Despite this growth, consumer trust is uncertain.
Just 20 percent of U.K. respondents have a great deal of confidence in the security of their mobile devices and services, while the vast majority – 60 percent – are at a crossroads and simply do not know if they should trust that their mobile experiences are secure. Along with the U.S. (22 percent) confidence is higher than in other markets, whereas only 4 percent of Japanese respondents have a great deal of confidence in their devices’ security.
This lack of consumer confidence puts mobile adoption at risk.
The survey found that all it would take is a single security vulnerability – real or perceived – for people to change their mobile behaviours or abandon certain mobile services altogether.
The majority of people questioned in the U.K. (74 percent) said they would stop using critical services if they experienced a security incident, this rose to 83 percent with online banking, 62 percent would no longer send private communications and more than half (53 percent) would stop viewing work-related information.
According to the survey, mobile security is an important issue that affects everyone – not just corporations and many have a part to play in building more trusted mobile experiences.
Additional Key Findings Include:
A Complex and Confusing Mobile Landscape
•Mobile users worldwide own an average of three Internet-connected devices, while nearly one in five people (18 percent) own five or more devices in the U.K.
•Globally three-quarters (76 percent) of mobile users access their banking or personal medical information while on the go, while 89 percent of respondents who use their personal devices for business purposes say they access sensitive work information.
•Further, the trend toward a “bring your own device” (BYOD) enterprise is creating new concerns for IT leaders, with nearly half of all respondents using their personal device for work (42 percent in the U.K., 41 percent globally) without permission from their company.
Key Stakeholders in Trust
•Mobile users in the U.K. rank network security (64 percent) and device security (51 percent) as the top two drivers of trust in their mobile devices, followed by network reliability (46 percent).
•The majority of mobile device users (62 percent) hold service providers most responsible for protecting their sensitive data, followed by device manufacturers (35 percent) and software security providers (36 percent).
•For advice on mobile security, people look to industry security experts (21 percent), service providers (15 percent), other users (13 percent), software security providers (11 percent) and device manufacturers (11 percent).
Supporting Quotes:
“The mobile revolution is unleashing massive opportunities, but our research shows we are at a critical turning point. The speed and scale at which mobile innovations can have a positive impact on society will depend on the industry’s ability to address new security vulnerabilities before they undermine people’s sense of safety. We must act now to protect and preserve trust in mobility.”Nawaf Bitar, senior vice president, Security Business Unit, Juniper Networks.
“Building trust in mobility is just as important as building great networks and powerful applications. Creating a safer, more secure and trusted mobile experience requires a sustained, collective effort by mobile service providers, device manufacturers, software developers, networking companies and security experts.”Dan Hoffman, chief mobile security evangelist, Juniper Networks.