Absolute Survey Shows Millennials Represent Greatest Risk to Corporate Data

Absolute Software Report Uncovers Usage Behavior and Security Risks of Connected Employees

VANCOUVER, May 13, 2015 /CNW/ - Absolute® Software Corporation (TSX: ABT), the industry standard for persistent endpoint security and management solutions for computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones, today announced the results of a U.S. mobile security study*, conducted earlier this year. The survey confirmed that Millennials prove to be a greater risk to data security as compared to other user categories.

The report provides insight into employee attitudes toward IT security and their behaviors on corporate-owned mobile devices. Based on usage preferences and content accessed, the results offer an eye-opening perspective on the security risks associated with employee mobile device usage, depending on company size, employee age, their role, and the number of devices they use.

The report demonstrates clear differences in generational behavior and associated risks related to data security.

Millennials versus Baby Boomers:

• 64% of Millennials use their employer-owned device for personal use, as opposed to 37% of Baby Boomers
• 35% of Millennials modify their default settings, compared to 8% of Baby Boomers
• 27% of Millennials access "Not Safe For Work" content, compared with only 5% of Baby Boomers
• 25% of Millennials believe they compromise IT security, compared with only 5% of Baby Boomers

"We conducted this survey with the intention of helping enterprises better understand the current attitudes that employees have towards data security and privacy," said Stephen Midgley, vice president, Global Marketing, Absolute Software. "Armed with this information, our customers can consider user behavior as an additional data point in their endpoint security and data risk management strategies."

Additional findings of the 2015 Mobile Device Security Report include:

• 50% of respondents believe that security is not their responsibility
• 52% of respondents use their employer-owned devices for personal use
• 21% of respondents have modified the default settings on their work devices
• 14% of all respondents believe their behavior compromises the security of their organization

Respondents also selected the three top benefits of mobility:

• 39%: I can respond to requests from any location
• 38%: I can be more responsive
• 38%: I can do work while I'm travelling

"While the report indicates real progress in a number of critical security areas, there is still a lot that can be done to modify behavior and educate employees," said Mr. Midgley. "Ultimately, everyone is responsible for protecting sensitive business information. Knowing there is ambiguity between how different users may approach this requirement, IT leaders need to provide meaningful guidance and training that reinforces this collective accountability."

To download the full report, please visit www.absolute.com/en/resources/research/mobile-device-security-survey-report-us

*Methodology

• The online survey was conducted in January 2015 among 762 North American adults age 18+ who are members of the Springboard America Forum and meet the following criteria:
  • use an employer-owned mobile device
  • work for a company with 50 employees or more
• Millennials are defined as respondents aged 18-34 years
• Baby Boomers are defined as respondents aged 55+ years

About Absolute Software

Absolute Software Corporation (TSX: ABT) is the industry standard in persistent endpoint security and data risk management solutions for computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. Persistence® technology from Absolute provides organizations with visibility and control over all of their devices, regardless of user or location. If an Absolute software client is removed from an endpoint, it will automatically reinstall so IT can secure each device and the sensitive data it contains. No other technology can do this. Absolute is positioned on three Gartner, Inc. Magic Quadrants - the Magic Quadrant for Client Management Tools (CMT), the Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) and the Magic Quadrant for Content-Aware Data Loss Prevention. Absolute is one of only four vendors to be recognized on both the CMT and EMM Magic Quadrants.  Persistence technology is embedded in the firmware of computers, netbooks, tablets and smartphones by global leaders, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, Motion, Panasonic, Samsung, and Toshiba, and the Company has reselling partnerships with these OEMs and others, including Apple. For more information about Absolute Software, visit www.absolute.com.

©2015 Absolute Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Computrace and Absolute are registered trademarks of Absolute Software Corporation. For patent information, visit www.absolute.com/patents. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained in this news release.

SOURCE Absolute Software Corporation

Public Relations: Becky Obbema, Interprose, [email protected] or 1 408 778 2024; or, Toru Levinson, Absolute Software, [email protected] or 1 604 730 9851 x208; Investor Relations: Kristen Dickson, TMX|Equicom, [email protected] or 1 416 815 0700 x273