CompTIA: Mobile security threats a greater concern 5 June, 2008 By Chris Talbot

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Organizations are dealing with a wide range of information security threats, through. Although viruses and worms were cited by 54 per cent of respondents and spyware was cited by 51 per cent regarding top security threats organization face today, mobile and remote worker security issues are becoming greater concerns. In all four regions where surveyes were conducted (the U.S., Canada, the U.K. And China), more than 50 per cent of respondents said security threats related to handheld devices has increased significantly over the last year.

"As global trends of workforce mobility and decentralization place a greater strain on IT security infrastructure, it is becoming increasingly more complex for IT departments to safeguard information," said Laurel Chivari, vice president of marketing and communications at CompTIA, in a statement. "Threats related to mobile/remote computing and handheld devices can include simple user operating error; using a mobile device for unauthorized purposes; worms, viruses and phishing attacks; or loss or theft of the mobile device."

Seventy-one per cent of respondents said their organizations allow mobile and remote employees to access data and networks, but only 39 per cent said their organizations have implemented security awareness training and education. Only 19 per cent said they intend to implement such training in 2008.

The good news is that of the organizations that have implemented security awareness training for remote and mobile employees, 92 per cent of respondents said they believe the number of major security breaches has been reduced.

For more information on "Trends in Information Security: A CompTIA Analysis of IT Security and the Workforce," visit the organization's Web site.