The bad news is that cybercriminals are increasingly targeting mobile devices in an effort to steal confidential information. The good news, however, is that enterprise and consumer users alike are becoming more aware of such threats and are acting on them, according to a new report from technology research firm Canalys.
Its latest report revealed that just 4 percent of smartphones and tablets shipped in 2010 had some kind of mobile data security solution downloaded and installed. However, that figure is predicted to rise to 20 percent of devices by 2015, as more users take action to secure their devices and protect the information they store.
Attention paid to mobile data security by companies and end-users will drive the adoption of mobile security solutions, according to the report.
“Over the next two years, Canalys expects device management to drive adoption of mobile security-related products, with businesses deploying solutions to track, monitor and authorize corporate data access, as consumers bring their devices into the workplace,” researchers concluded.
Of course, as the focus on mobile security grows, so too will the market for such solutions, Canalys acknowledged. It pointed out that the market for mobile data security tools will reach $759.8 million by the end of 2011.
During the next several years, researchers said, the market will grow 44.2 percent annually to reach $3 billion by the end of 2015.
“Mobile security uptake is anticipated to rise rapidly over the next four years, as enterprises conform more strictly to data protection and compliance practices, and consumers begin to understand the impending security threat to their personal data,” the report stated.
Mobile users will have to continue recognizing the prominence of mobile threats, as Canalys’ researchers said the landscape for cyberattacks against smartphones and tablets will only grow more volatile. Cybercriminals have demonstrated no intention of averting their attention from the mobile market.
Canalys’ study is just one of several recent reports to predict big things for the mobile data protection solutions market. Last month, the Global Smartphone Security Market by Operating Systems, Ownership & Features report stated that annual increases of 43.9 percent can be expected for the market during the next five years. Like Canalys, this report also said the market will exceed $3 billion in revenue, only it will take until 2016, according to the September research.
Security News from SimplySecurity.com by Trend Micro
