Why Endpoint Backup Is More Critical Than Ever

Transcription

1 A Custom Technology Adoption Profile Commissioned By Code42 April 2014 Why Endpoint Backup Is More Critical Than Ever Introduction The mobile mind shift is here, and as employees increasingly favor using their mobile devices both personal and company-issued to perform their daily jobs, enterprises are tasked with implementing solutions that ensure productivity as well as data protection. Accessing corporate data is happening at any time, in any place, and on any device; relying on traditional firewalls and local file shares is no longer enough when it comes to securing and backing up this critical, sensitive data. A comprehensive workforce enablement and protection strategy means backing up and seamlessly restoring data across an ever-growing number of devices and operating systems. In March 2014, Code42 commissioned Forrester Consulting to dive deeper into the trends and drivers for endpoint backup solutions among North American enterprises, while demonstrating that many employees store local data on endpoints that must be protected.

2 1 The Anywhere, Anytime, Any-Device Worker Is The New Normal Workers are increasingly using personal mobile devices for work purposes wherever they want, whenever they want. According to Forrester s Telecom and Mobility Workforce Survey, Q2 2013, over two-thirds of respondents perform work tasks using their mobile devices from home (see Figure 1). Others are using smartphones and tablets to work from the car; in airports, hotels, and coffee shops; and while commuting. Overall, employees are working anywhere, at any time, and from many different devices. Most workers turn to smartphones and tablets when they are outside the office, which is particularly notable when thinking about bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trends. Organizations surveyed as part of this profile were asked to select all devices their employees use today and all devices they expect them to use in 12 to 24 months. While 9 of organizations stated that employees currently access corporate data from company-issued laptops, this is expected to drop to just 35% over the next two years. On the other hand, the use of personal tablets is expected to increase 48% over the next two years from 29% to 56% (see Figure 2). This increased use of mobile devices in more places means that the critical data stored locally on these devices is at risk of being lost, stolen, or broken. This also means that IT has less control of employee devices, diminishing its ability to protect and secure corporate data stored on the endpoint. FIGURE 1 Workers Use Mobile Devices From A Variety Of Places Where do you use the following for work in a typical week? At your work desk At home In a different room or building at work (e.g., during meetings) 23% 3 60% Tablet 66% 91% Smartphone 53% 60% 76% 77% Computer (laptop or desktop) While traveling (e.g., in the airport, hotel, etc.) 9% 42% 42% In your car 27% 57% In a coffee shop or other public place 6% 36% In another work facility 12% 33% 35% While commuting (other than in your car) 26% 41% Base: 1,233 information workers at enterprises in North America Source: Forrsights Telecom And Mobility Workforce Survey, Q2 2013, Forrester Research, Inc.

3 2 FIGURE 2 Shift From Company-Issued To Employee-Owned Devices From which of the following devices do employees access corporate data? Laptop (company issued) 35% months Today Desktop (company issued) 37% 90% Smartphone (company issued) 75% Tablet (company issued) 40% 63% Smartphone (employee owned) 40% 5 Tablet (employee owned) Laptop (employee owned) Desktop (employee owned) 29% 35% 33% 48% 56% Other (please specify) Base: 52 IT decision-makers at US enterprises Source: A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Code42, March 2014 Despite Growing BYOD Trends, Most Employees Still Look To Their Companies For Backup Over half of employees surveyed for Forrester s Devices And Security Workforce Survey, Q2 2013, assume that their companies back up their most important files, whether or not this is actually true (see Figure 3). However, many employees will also use their own methods of protecting critical data, especially if there is no corporate offering. Case in point: 41% of employees back up critical files using a flash drive or CD/DVD, and 28% back up to an external hard drive or server they own. This increased flow of data outside the four walls of the enterprise is troubling not just because it will be difficult to audit and control, but also because it is a leading cause of data security breaches. 1 Nevertheless, despite the challenges, IT is still responsible for ensuring corporate data is protected, regardless of who owns the endpoints.

4 4 FIGURE 3 Over Half Of Employees Rely On Their Companies To Back Up Critical Files How do you back up your most important files? My company does it automatically for me 5 I back up to a USB flash drive or CD/DVD 41% I back up to an external hard drive or server that I own I back up to an external hard drive or server from my company I put key documents in a file sync, sharing, or online locker service, but don t back up the whole PC/smartphone/tablet I use a personal account with an online backup service 5% 28% 27% Base: 691 information workers at enterprises in North America Source: Forrsights Devices And Security Workforce Survey, Q2 2013, Forrester Research, Inc. Organizations Are Recognizing The Importance Of Endpoint Backup As access points grow to include a variety of devices and locations, organizations are taking steps to protect corporate data at the endpoint. Fifty-eight percent of survey respondents have already implemented endpoint backup solutions, 29% of which are expanding or upgrading initiatives (see Figure 4). This is in addition to the 27% that plan to adopt within the next two years. In fact, only of enterprise organizations surveyed for this profile report no interest in adopting endpoint/client data backup solutions. Of the 85% of organizations that have adopted or plan to adopt endpoint backup/client data solutions, the majority cited improving business continuity/disaster recovery (BC/DR) as the top driver (see Figure 5). Just under half of organizations (48%) attributed adoption to employees storing critical data on endpoints that must be protected. This is followed by the desire to maintain control of data (43%) and to perform ediscovery and/or legal holds (3) through centralization. FIGURE 4 Over Half Of Enterprises Are Already Using Endpoint Backup, Over A Quarter Have Plans To Implement What are your organization s plans to adopt endpoint/client data backup solutions, either on-premises or in the cloud? Expanding or upgrading implementation 29% Implemented, not expanding/ upgrading 29% Base: 52 IT decision-makers at US enterprises Not interested Interested but no plans to implement 58% already implemented 28% planning to implement Planning to implement in months 8% Planning to implement in the next 12 months 20% Source: A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Code42, March 2014

5 4 FIGURE 5 Improving BC/DR And Protecting Critical Data At The Endpoint Are Driving Adoption Of Endpoint Backup You stated that you have adopted, or plan to adopt, endpoint backup/client solution(s). What are the primary drivers behind this? We want to improve our business continuity/disaster recovery Employees are storing critical data on endpoints that must be protected We need to centralize corporate data to maintain control over it We need to centralize corporate data so we can perform ediscovery and/or legal holds on it We are deploying in conjunction with new endpoint/client security capabilities We are upgrading our operating systems on the endpoint We are performing an endpoint hardware refresh We recently experienced data loss at the endpoint 16% 1 11% 7% 3 43% 48% 57% Base: 44 IT decision-makers at US enterprises Source: A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Code42, March 2014 Yet despite strong adoption across US enterprises, sufficiently protecting data at the endpoint remains a significant concern. Nearly two-thirds of respondents indicated that their organization has experienced data loss at the endpoint due to reasons such as lost or stolen devices or accidental deletion of files (see Figure 6). Thirtyeight percent of these respondents cited the subsequent drain on IT department resources as the biggest impact of endpoint data loss, and 37% listed the loss of employee productivity. Twenty-seven percent reported that the loss of data at the endpoint was permanent.

6 5 FIGURE 6 Two-Thirds Of Organizations Have Experienced Data Loss At The Endpoint Has your organization ever experienced data loss at the endpoint (e.g., lost or stolen laptop, accidental deletion of files)? If so, what was the impact? Drain on IT department resources Loss of employee productivity 37% Not applicable; to my knowledge, we have not lost data at the endpoint 33% Permanent loss of data 27% Loss of revenue Loss of employee confidence in the IT department Base: 52 IT decision-makers at US enterprises Source: A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Code42, March 2014 Conclusion In the era of highly mobile employees who work on many different devices in many different places, the question isn t if your organization will experience data loss on the endpoint, it s when. There is mission-critical data on employee-owned devices. Today s employees know they have critical data residing on these devices, and they assume IT will either automatically back up the devices or provide them with an endpoint backup solution. And unfortunately, if IT doesn t provide them with a corporate-sanctioned alternative, they will use the various methods at their disposal and introduce considerable risk to the enterprise. Work happens anywhere and on any device. During a typical week, more than three out of four information workers use a mobile device for work when away from their desk, and they use multiple devices to do so. These devices are increasingly employee-owned. Risk remains high despite IT awareness. The majority of organizations surveyed for this profile have adopted endpoint backup/client data solutions, yet two-thirds also report that they have experienced data loss. As employees become increasingly mobile and use personal devices for work, IT is increasingly pressured to protect data on endpoints, reducing the risk of data loss. The main challenge it faces is meeting enterprise data security requirements while allowing its mobile workforce to work wherever and however they choose. Methodology This Technology Adoption Profile was commissioned by Code42. To create this profile, Forrester leveraged its Forrsights Devices And Security Workforce Survey, Q2 2013, and Forrsights Telecom And Mobility Workforce Survey, Q Forrester Consulting supplemented this data with custom survey questions asked of IT decision-makers. Survey

7 6 respondents included managers and above at enterprise companies in the US. The auxiliary custom survey was conducted in March For more information on Forrester s data panel and Tech Industry Consulting services, visit ABOUT FORRESTER CONSULTING Forrester Consulting provides independent and objective research-based consulting to help leaders succeed in their organizations. Ranging in scope from a short strategy session to custom projects, Forrester s Consulting services connect you directly with research analysts who apply expert insight to your specific business challenges. For more information, visit forrester.com/consulting. 2014, Forrester Research, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited. Information is based on best available resources. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change. Forrester, Technographics, Forrester Wave, RoleView, TechRadar, and Total Economic Impact are trademarks of Forrester Research, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies. For additional information, go to [1-PAMM6Q] Endnotes 1 Of enterprises that have had a data breach in the past 12 months, 25% were caused by the loss/theft of a corporate asset. Source: Tech Spotlight: Endpoint Backup In The Enterprise, Forrester Research, Inc., September 4, 2013.