The need to manage mobile data security is increasing, and so are the complexities, penalties, and damages from failing to address this critical area. The following statistics highlight the growing need for data security in mobility:
- According to the 2017 Security Global Report from Trustwave, 65% of IT professionals felt pressure to roll out new technology before proper security measures were implemented and tested. Additionally, Trustwave reports that nearly 20% of enterprises had not conducted any security checks in the 6 months preceding their survey.
- IDC research estimates that by 2020, over 70% of U.S. employees – or roughly 105 million workers – will be part of the mobile workforce.
- The average cost of a data breach is $4 million and approximately $158 per lost or stolen device. (Ponemon Institute’s 2016 Cost of Data Breach Study)
- Other developing technologies like IoT and wearables continue to gain adoption and will play an increasing role within an enterprise’s data security program.
Today’s cyber-criminals combine a range of approaches to attack businesses and their customers from multiple angles or “vectors.” One area that is often neglected is retirement and disposal, or e-recycling, of IT equipment. Most enterprises turn to solutions providers to address these challenges. In some situations, these providers must rely on partners to create a comprehensive solution (i.e. procurement, deployment, help desk, depot repair, value recovery, and e-recycling).
Vetting of partners’ data security certifications and policies becomes an important step in ensuring that strict controls are in place throughout the entire chain of custody. If you are partnered with an asset disposition or e-recycling company, this is of particular importance. Enterprise devices that are being retired often contain sensitive corporate data. It is also important to remember that hard drives are not the only devices that contain sensitive information. A shredding system can help destroy all forms of electronic media (flash drives, CD-ROMs, floppy disks, and data tapes). A full-service electronics recycling, remarketing, and global scrap purchasing company can help address these issues, especially one that can provide on-site or in-house data destruction and sanitization services.
In addition to data destruction, serialized asset tracking services performed on-site or within your e-recycling company’s facilities can provide clear tracking and chain of custody. Real-time access to your IT asset disposition reports, open orders, and/or orders in progress is the final ingredient to help ensure your organization overcomes its data security challenges when retiring IT assets.
