The market for security programs to protect mobile devices, including feature phones, smartphones and tablets, will reach at least $3.7 billion by 2016, according to a recent study by Juniper Research. By that year, business and enterprise sales will account for 69 percent of the market.
For many years, security software’s presence has been a common practice in the desktop PC and laptop sectors, but not so in mobile devices. The recent series of security threats has raised the public’s awareness for mobile device’s vulnerability.
The new Mobile Security research of Juniper found that companies are now starting to spend more on security applications for mobile devices, as they become a key part of enterprise policy.
“Enterprise users are in the front line against potential security breaches through insufficient mobile security and companies need to incorporate mobile network connected devices into the corporate network since this is the easiest way to enforce policies and to audit such devices,” said Nitin Bhas, author of the report.
The report also shows that as more and more tablets are brought into the enterprise in the next five years, the proportion of these devices that feature security software will also rise and overtake the percentage of protected smartphones.
Today, less than 1 in 20 tablets and smartphones have third party security programs installed, despite the fact that security threats are increasing. The study sees that mobile security software will hit the mainstream market by late 2013 and at least 277 million smartphones and tablets will have some kind of security software installed by 2012.
Do you think tablets should offer additional security?
