Cyber security top concern for corporate IoT deployments: BlackBerry

Ontario: Cyber security is the top concern regarding digital technologies and processes for firms globally (63 per cent) but only a few (37 per cent) actually have a formal digital transformation strategy in place when it comes to Internet of Things (IoT) deployments, new research said on Tuesday.

BlackBerry has released findings from a new global research white paper which surveyed IT decision makers on corporate IoT deployments. 

Conducted by market research firm 451 Research, the white paper revealed huge opportunities balanced against significant cybersecurity concerns. 

"The proliferation of IoT is being led by enterprises, and they continue to require a unified endpoint management strategy that is capable of scaling to handle billions of connected devices," said Marty Beard, Chief Operating Officer, BlackBerry. 

Seventy eight percent of respondents indicated interest in a solution that allows them to manage all their endpoints in one place. 

"We are focused on securing the EoT because for all its promise, the expanding adoption of connected things means that companies are only as secure as their most vulnerable endpoint," Beard added. 

Organisations are least prepared against external threats, with nearly two-thirds (61 per cent) citing hackers and cyber warfare as top concerns. 

"Thirty nine percent of respondents from very large organisations (more than 10,000 employees) revealed that a lack of collaboration among internal departments is a potential barrier to unified endpoint management, while 51 per cent of mid-sized organizations felt the same way," the findings showed.