Data Breach Fears Prompt IT to Secure Cellular/Voice Communications

Concerns of potential data breaches via cellular/voice communications are leading CIOs to investigate solutions to address the issue before it's too late, according to a recent survey.

Thu, August 23, 2007CIO An August vendor-commissioned survey found that CIOs and their IT departments are concerned with potential exposure of sensitive company information via corporate voice communications, and they're increasingly seeking out solutions to address the issue.

"The ubiquity of mobile phones and smartphones, coupled with the rise in fraud, privacy concerns, corporate espionage and terrorism, has triggered a heightened awareness and demand for secure voice communications," said Emil Sturniolo, KoolSpan chief scientist and principal author of the 2007 Mobile Trust Survey report.

image of cell phones

KoolSpan, a mobile security solutions vendor, commissioned Zoomerang, a division of market research firm MarketTools, to conduct the survey of 219 IT professionals with security, computer/IT management and systems/networking titles. One-third of respondents came from large enterprises, or businesses with 5,000 or more employees; 15 percent came from midsize firms, or organizations with between 1,000 and 5,000 staffers; and small businesses, or enterprises with fewer than 1,000 workers, made up 42 percent of the survey base. The remaining 10 percent came from the government sector or selected the "other" survey option.

The most notable survey findings include the fact that 44 percent of respondents were aware of security compromises to voice communications on mobile/cellular networks—their own or otherwise—but only 8 percent said they already had some form of secure voice solution deployed. Fifty-three percent of survey participants said they were aware of employees traveling to business destinations considered to be "untrusted."

Though less than 10 percent of the surveyed IT professionals said they already had solutions deployed to help protect corporate voice communications, 72 percent said they would consider a secure voice solution if it were easy to install and maintain and were affordable.

In securing cellular/mobile communications, "the CIO's challenge will relate less to the deployment of [a solution] directly, but relate more to the issues surrounding enterprise management of mobile devices. This is a trend already underway and is made more complicated by the 'bring-your-own-device-to-work' model currently in place at many enterprises," Sturniolo said. "KoolSpan has designed solutions to address this issue, creating a product which can migrate from device to device as users upgrade on regular wireless carrier contract cycles."

KoolSpan's secure voice solution is called TrustChip Voice, and though the company requested that specific pricing details remain unpublished, it offers two pricing models: a monthly subscription plan and a one-time payment. More information can be found on KoolSpan's website.

security

Loading...
Security MarketSpace
Practical Approaches for Securing Web Applications
Enterprises understand the importance of securing web applications to protect critical corporate and customer data. What many don't understand, is how to implement a robust process for integrating security and risk management throughout the web application software development lifecycle. Learn more »
An Executive's Guide to Web Application Security
Since so many Web sites contain vulnerabilities, hackers can leverage a relatively simple exploit to gain access to a wealth of sensitive information, such as credit card data, social security numbers and health records. It's more important than ever to examine your Web application security, assess your vulnerability and take action to protect your business. Learn more »
Web Application Vulnerabilities
Security managers may work for midsize or large organizations; they may operate from anywhere on the globe. But inevitably, they share a common goal: to better manage the risks associated with their business infrastructure. Increasingly, Web application security plays a significant role in achieving that goal. Learn more »
Retooling IT for a Mobile Workforce
Check out this research note from IDC for guidance. Learn more »
Today's Risky Data Environment
This paper explains how an IT and security service provider can provide a practical, manageable and reliable solution. Learn more »
Business Continuity - Are You Always Open for Business?
This Oracle business brief explains how mid-sized can improve performance by creating an IT infrastructure that makes working faster, easier and more effective. Learn more »
 
SPONSORED LINKS
 

Making Consumer Two-Factor Authentication Simple and Cost-Effective

Mining the Cloud to Ease the Enterprise Compliance Burden

Solve Five Key IT Security Challenges with Cloud-Based Authentication

White Paper: Managed Security for a Not-So-Secure World

Secure Email and Web-Based Communication from Evolving Attacks

WagerWorks Takes Fraudsters Out of the Game using iovation

White Paper: A Security Blueprint Delivered From within the Network

Return on Information: Google Enterprise Search pays you back

Cut Costs & Green Your IT Operations with PC Power Management

White Paper: 4 Customer Service Myths

White Paper: Improve Agility with Operational Responsiveness

White Paper: Legacy Tools: Not Built for the Helpdesk

Taking a Seat at the Executive Table: The Reality of Virtualization

White Paper: Next Generation Remote Infrastructure Management

Seven Design Requirements for Web 2.0 Threat Protection

Increase UPS efficiency without sacrificing protection.

Learn how advanced forecasting tools can deliver significant business results for global corporations.

Lower IT Costs with Oracle Database 11g Release 2

White Paper: Visibility and the New Normal of Mobile Work

Taking the Service Desk to the Next Level

Learn about The Information Technology Infrastructure Library.

Return on Information: Google Enterprise Search pays you back. Get the facts.

VMware. The source for Business Infrastructure Virtualization.

ShoreTel tells businesses to untangle from competitors' complexity and turn to its brilliantly simple UC solution

Top Five CIO Challenges

Authentication as a Service by Forrester Research

Cloud-Based Authentication for Next-Generation Extranets

Mobile Security: The Essential Ingredient for Today's Enterprise

IDC White Paper: CCM for IT Compliance and Risk Management

Keeping Your Members Safe from Online Scams and Predators

Learn about the growing threat of insider data theft.

Upgrading to VMware vSphere with vWire

Maximizing website Return on Information with high-quality search

See how AT&T can help protect your network.

Webcast: Unleashing the Power of Customer Data

White Paper: 5 Best Practices for Smartphone Support

Global Research: CIOs Weigh In On Virtualization

5 Key Virtualization Management Challenges

The Total Economic Impact of Network Security Intrusion Prevention

Generation Remote Infrastructure Management - Changing the Paradigm

Cloud-Based Email Management: Opinion Shifts In Favor

eBook: How Can You Make Your People Productive Anywhere?

Achieving Business Agility with Application Grid

Ready to virtualize tier one applications? Check your virtualization maturity.

Seven Ways ITIL Can Help You in an Economic Downturn

Tips for successful virtualization management.

AT&T Synaptic Storage as a Service. Expand on demand

Trend Micro ranked #1 against real-world malware. Read more.

Webinar: Jump-start your in-house e-discovery with Ringtail QuickCull from FTI Technology

Streamline IT Costs. Boost Performance with WAN Optimization.

 
 
RESOURCE CENTER