4G rollout sparks enterprise security fears

SecureData urges end users to consider risks associated with a potential remote access surge before it is too late

Eighty per cent of UK enterprises fear that the rollout of 4G technology will bring increased security risks for their companies, according to new research.

Security reseller SecureData commissioned Vanson Bourne to carry out an independent study of 100 UK businesses with more than 1,000 employees across the retail, manufacturing, financial services and other commercial sectors.

The results found that of those surveyed, more than half thought that the introduction of the advanced internet technology would see an increase in employees accessing the network remotely, which could cause more security issues.

In its The Future of the Workforce white paper, the firm claims that despite such a high proportion of those asked predicting security issues, not enough are acting on it. Only a third of respondents claimed to have a budget assigned specifically for security issues associated with remote access.

The February auction of 4G technology, which provides users with superfast broadband speeds, raised £2.3bn for the Treasury, some £1.2bn less than expected. The full rollout of the technology is expected later on in 2013, and SecureData claimed that the long-term timescale means businesses are putting off thinking about its impact on their firms.

Alan Carter, the reseller's solutions consultant, said waiting to address 4G security risks could catch end users out.

"Those waiting to see the impact 4G will have before implementing any kind of policy will leave the organisation vulnerable to more security risks," he added.

"By not creating the appropriate policy and framework for employees to use personal devices, businesses are creating a bigger risk as employees will find their own ways of transferring corporate data to devices, methods which are often very risky."