'Security Is Not My Responsibility' According to Enterprise Workers Polled in Absolute Software Research

The Value of Corporate Data on Mobile Devices is Significantly Underrated by Enterprise Employees

VANCOUVER, March 5, 2014 /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 the 2013 Mobile Enterprise Risk Survey.  The survey polled workers in companies with 1000 or more employees who use mobile phones for work within diverse industries, including banking, retail, healthcare, and energy. The poll focused on the state of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies within these organizations and the current sentiment of workers regarding responsibility and compliance for corporate data contained on mobile devices.

Key US findings of the 2013 Mobile Enterprise Risk Survey include:

• It's not my problem
  When asked about appropriate penalties if they leak or lose company data, a quarter (25.2 percent) of American enterprise workers surveyed said there should be no punishment since data security is not their responsibility.

• It's not a big deal
  While 75 percent of respondents felt that they should face some penalty if they lost corporate data, many of those who had lost a device with work data on it said their punishment ranged from 'nothing' (34 percent) to simply having to replace the device (30 percent) or getting a 'talking to', but nothing else (21 percent).

• I didn't know
  About one quarter (23 percent) of respondents indicated that they do not know their company's procedure for dealing with work device loss or theft. Also, 10 percent of respondents indicated that their employer is not looking to introduce a procedure for the loss or theft of work devices.

• It can't happen to me again
  More than one third (35 percent) of respondents who had lost their mobile phones stated that they did not change their security habits afterwards.

• It's just a phone
  Nearly two thirds (59 percent) of enterprise mobile users estimated their corporate data to be worth less than $500.

As the use of mobile devices continues to increase in the enterprise, these survey results indicate IT is still facing many challenges implementing and enforcing mobile-use guidelines. Although employees may feel the data on their device is only worth $500, when you consider that most data breach penalties can range into the millions of dollars, there's an obvious disconnect between an employee's perception and the risk to the organization.

"If firms don't set clear policies that reflect the priority of corporate data security, they can't expect employees to make it a priority on their own," said Tim Williams, mobile enterprise data expert and Director, Product Management at Absolute Software.

The lax attitude of workers towards securing mobile devices and the data they contain, even after device loss or theft, places enterprises and their sensitive data in a vulnerable position.

"The data may be carried around in the employee's pocket, but the half million dollar fines we've seen levied due to data loss come out of the company's pocket," said Williams. "Clear policies, properly articulated to employees, will ensure that the entire company, not just IT, unites against mobile data loss."

For a complete report on the findings of Absolute Software's Mobile Enterprise Risk Survey, please visit: http://www.absolute.com/en/resources/research/mobile-enterprise-risk-us

About Absolute Software
Absolute Software Corporation (TSX: ABT) is the industry standard in persistent endpoint security and management for computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones. The Company, a leader in device security and management tracking for 20 years, has over 30,000 commercial customers worldwide. Absolute's solutions - Computrace®, Absolute Manage®, Absolute Service, Absolute Secure Drive, and Absolute LoJack® - provide organizations with actionable intelligence to prove compliance, securely manage BYOD, and deliver comprehensive visibility and control over all of their devices and data. Absolute is positioned on two Gartner, Inc. Magic Quadrants - the Magic Quadrant for Client Management Tools and the Magic Quadrant for Mobile Device Management Software. Absolute is one of only four vendors to be recognized on both Magic Quadrants based on providing customers with the ability to secure and manage many different types of devices using a single solution. Absolute persistence technology is embedded in the firmware of computers, netbooks, tablets and smartphones by global leaders, including Acer, ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, 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.

Methodology
From November 15 to 29, 2013, Vision Critical conducted an online survey among 750 randomly selected US adults age 18+ who have a mobile phone for work, and work for a company with 1000 employees or more.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the expected performance, functionality and availability of our services and products, and other expectations, intentions and plans contained in this press release that are not historical fact. When used in this press release, the words "plan," "expect," "believe," and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and general market conditions. In light of the many risks and uncertainties you should understand that we cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will be realized. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as at the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

©2014 Absolute Software Corporation. All rights reserved. Computrace and Absolute are registered trademarks of Absolute Software Corporation. LoJack is a registered trademark of LoJack Corporation, used under license by Absolute Software Corporation. LoJack Corporation is not responsible for any content herein. U.S. patents No. 5,715,174, No. 5,764,892, No. 5,802,280, No. 5,896,497, No. 6,087,937, No. 6,244,758, No. 6,269,392, No. 6,300,863, No. 6,507,914, No. 7,818,557, No. 7,818,803, No. 7,945,709, No. 8,062,380, No. 8,234,359, No. 8,241,369, No. 8,307,055, No. 8,332,953, No. 8,346,234, No. 8,362,901, No. 8,418,226, No. 8,419,806, No. 8,441,348, No. 8,510,825, No. 8,556,991, No. 8,566,961 and No. 8,606,971. Canadian patents No. 2,211,735, No. 2,284,806, No. 2,205,370, No. 2,771,208 and No. 2,733,222. U.K. patents No. EP0793823, No. GB2298302, and No. GB2338101. German patent No. 69512534. Australian patent No. 699045. Japanese patents No. 4067035, No. 5220924 and No. 5363305. Mexican patents No. 297,406 and No. 306,287. Russian patent No. 2,460,220. The Toronto Stock Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved of the information contained in this news release.

SOURCE: Absolute Software Corporation

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