How Seriously Are Your Employees Taking Smartphone Security?

A team member from our Seattle office shared this link about a recent study that might raise some eyebrows for any company utilizing smartphones. The first paragraph summarizes nicely;

Nearly 40 percent of smartphone users say they’re worried about security, including harmful apps, malicious emails and having their locations tracked and activities monitored. But 82 percent of them are not using security apps for their cellphones.

Let that sink in for a minute. Think about what corporate information is available on those phones. How many of your employee’s are using their smartphones to access work tasks, such as email? What would happen if that information ever got into the hands of someone it’s not supposed to?

It’s just another example of what IT professionals are dealing with these days, amidst the proliferation of mobile devices in the enterprise. Further, if you’re interested in the subject of smartphone management, check out our upcoming webinar that should prove pretty insightful on smartphone management, monitoring and securing.

 

 

Google-ola?

Ok, by now we’ve all seen the news of Google’s acquisition of Motorola, and by now there have probably been several write-ups, blurbs, and  so forth. The deal certainly made for an interesting Monday morning, but as others have pointed out, one of the more interesting aspects of the deal is the patents Google gains with the purchase. As Silicon Valley Mercury News reported,

The deal also gives Google access to more than 17,000 patents held by Motorola, a pioneering cellphone maker that became an early partner using Google’s Android mobile operating system in 2008. Analysts said those patents could help Google stave off a barrage of claims levied by rivals battling the company’s Android mobile operating system.

[Google CEO Larry Page] acknowledged this strategy, saying in a blog post: “Our acquisition of Motorola will increase competition by strengthening Google’s patent portfolio, which will enable us to better protect Android from anticompetitive threats from Microsoft, Apple and other companies.”

Wow.

On the enterprise mobility front, Motorola Mobility’s sister, Motorola Solutions, will remain a separate company. It will be interesting to see what Google does with the Mobility side once the acquisition is complete and how/if it changes the competitive landscape of the ever-growing smartphone/tablet world.

iPhone vs that old thing?

A humorous and short post today. I’m sure that many of us remember the days before iPhones, Androids, BlackBerry, etc. and Gizmodo has a pretty great contest between “John’s old phone” and an iPhone 4. Who do you think wins?

Have a great close to the week!