Author: Lucy

The study indicated that approximately 90 percent of companies are making a concerted effort.

The findings from the latest study conducted by AT&T have indicated that small businesses in the United States are making proactive efforts to ensure that mobile security is a central part of their efforts over that channel.

As company heads see a growing number of headlines regarding data breaches, more protection efforts are being taken.

Businesses are regularly seeing mobile security risks in the headlines in terms of data breaches, cyberattacks, and even natural disasters such as the tornadoes in Oklahoma and Superstorm Sandy. This awareness is causing those in charge of IT to boost their efforts to protect themselves against damage from these types of events while at the same time they put their own disaster recovery plans into place.

On an increasing basis, these disaster recovery plans are incorporating mobile security into their strategies.

The largest wireless operator in the country has stated that among the mobile security efforts have included the incorporation of apps, wireless network capabilities and cloud services. The AT&T study’s results also included the following:

• 84 percent of American company execs are concerned about the mobile security risks associated with using the devices and mobile networks, and the increase in threats that this could bring about.
• Over half of the executives that took part in the survey (63 percent) felt that the most important security concern this year was the threat of a data breach.
• 88 percent of the respondents stated that they understood the growing need for mobile security efforts and that their own companies already had established a proactive strategy.
• 64 percent of the companies surveyed included their wireless network capabilities as an element of their business continuity plan.
• 87 percent of the surveyed execs said that their companies already had a precautionary business continuity plan established in case of a catastrophe or a threat. This was just a sliver higher than it had been in 2012, when it was 86 percent.

According to the AT&T AVP of mobile, cloud, and access management security, Michael Singer, in a statement about this mobile security survey, “Companies today are very aware and concerned about the potential threats that could disrupt their operations.” He added that “With their business continuity plans in place, businesses are investing in new technologies like network enabled cloud services to help strengthen and expand their overall continuity strategies.”

Companies in the UAE are being urged to embrace these opportunities to keep up with the competition.

According to the results of TNS research called the Annual Mobile Life Study, geolocation and QR codes may be the most important technologies to be considered for the future of businesses.

The organization that held the study is among the largest custom market research firms in the world.

It determined that location based services, also known as geolocation and LBS, as well as quick response (QR) codes, could hold the key to remaining competitive in the not too distant future, and that many companies in the United Arab Emirates are already taking their first steps in that direction.

The research indicated that geolocation and scannable barcodes are especially important in the UAE.

The reason is that in that country, the penetration of mobile devices currently stands at an estimated 92 percent. Among the users of those devices, 43 percent are currently already using geolocation services. Fifty three percent of consumers in the UAE who aren’t yet using these services have expressed an interest in doing so.

The research went on to examine the behaviors, attitudes, motivations, and responses of consumers. It suggested that 37 percent of geolocation users apply these services for navigating their way around and locating friends. Another 27 percent use LBS to find points of interest that are nearby and as a dedicated GPS alternative.

TNS MENA CEO, Steve Hamilton-Clark explained that geolocation LBS services have finally come of age. Data is now indicating that the same is becoming true for QR codes. The research showed that 19 percent of mobile users are now using them, and that 28 percent have expressed interest in doing so.

Hamilton-Clark explained that “Advanced features such as home control, speech to text, LBS and scanning QR codes hold strong growth potential.” He added that “As more people gain access to smartphone technology, they are eager to use new content and multiple functions as long as they deliver convenience, experience, reassurance, relevance and independence.”

Mobile is a primary entry point for giving consumers the ability to obtain the information and the entertainment that they require. Brands are being advised to consider geolocation and QR codes to ensure that they are taking advantage of the opportunity that they hold.