BYOD set to drive extra security on consumer mobile devices

According to research group Gartner consumers are unwilling to pay for security products on their mobile devices. But thanks to BYOD and the need to protect corporate data it believes security providers have an opportunity to get their products onto more devices.

Gartner predicts that by 2015, 30 percent of the criteria for consumer product selection will be based on requirements to secure mobile computing platforms. It urges product managers to expand their endpoint security to cover all popular mobile devices as well as traditional PC systems.

"The use of personal devices at work matches high-enterprise demand for solutions to the BYOD security problem," says Ruggero Contu, research director at Gartner. "This presents providers of both consumer and enterprise endpoint security products with an opportunity to enforce security to private devices and potentially expand their footprint into the consumer space. Consequently, product managers at consumer security providers need to adopt strategies that allow consumer security use on personal devices in the enterprise workplace".

The low take up of security products on new mobile platforms, combined with decreasing PC sales, will create ongoing challenges for providers in the consumer security market. Gartner estimates that the average IT-savvy consumer has five or more devices at home that connect to the internet. However, consumers are far more likely to have an antivirus program installed on their laptops and desktops while tablets, mobile phones and gaming systems that connect to the web are often left unprotected.

The number of devices people now own makes multi-device licensing look like an increasingly attractive proposition. Gartner also finds that when it comes to protection the under 50s are more likely to opt for free protection with older consumers turning to paid options.

"The current awareness of security and its impact on users of mobile devices is likely to change," says Mr Contu. "Gartner expects attacks to focus increasingly on mobile platforms as they become more popular. This is likely to make consumers show more interest in security products that address mobile devices and acquire mobile security as part of a broader consumer endpoint security platform".

Gartner analysts will discuss the implications of BYOD on device security at the Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit 2013, to be held from August 19-20 in Sydney, Australia, and September 18-20 in London. For more information visit the Gartner website.

Photo Credits: Slavoljub Pantelic/Shutterstock