The proliferation of cheap ultra-mobile laptops and computing gadgets could pose a security problem for enterprises that provide access to corporate networks to their employees.
With them, the number of users logging onto corporate networks seen rising
HYDERABAD: The proliferation of cheap ultra-mobile laptops and computing gadgets could pose a security problem for enterprises that provide access to corporate networks to their employees, suppliers and customers.
It is a well-known fact that as popularity increases, the target for malware and other cyber crimes also increases, Vishal Dhupar, managing director of IT security software firm, Symantec India, said. The same is bound to be the case with the increasing popularity of mobile computing given that more users will be logging into corporate networks.
Mobile computing is set to become a standard feature in the country with at least three brands of sub-Rs 15,000 laptops slated to hit the Indian market over the next few days and many corporates too eyeing these cheap gadgets to equip their employees.
As it is, the notebook market in India is booming with the household sector alone driving it with a 164% growth in consumption in the first half of 2007-08 and accounting for 49% of the total notebook market. Consumption of notebooks in the enterprise segment grew 25%, contributing for 33% of the total market.
“Any laptop can get connected to an enterprise network with companies giving access even to suppliers and customers. Therefore it is important that anti-virus, spyware, firewalls, intrusion detection systems and software are state-of-the-art,” Dhupar said.
According to the latest available Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR) from Symantec, about 46% of the data breaches are caused on account of data theft or data loss, with hackers increasingly targeting the BFSI, telecom, and IT and ITES sectors.
These are the very sectors that the IT security firm is finding growth coming from in the Indian market, Dhupar said. “We are in a very interesting phase in India with banking and telecom driving business while manufacturing and healthcare sectors have been the eye openers”, he said.
Regulatory compliance arising out of aspects such as Right to Information Act, Clause 49 of the Securities and Exchange Board of India Act and Basel II are forcing Indian corporations in the banking, telecom and other sectors to implement IT security measures.
“Regulation has become the big driver of the of security software in the industry today where IT security is seeing a top-down approach to implementation,” he added.
p_chitti@dnaindia.net
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