Rising security flaws in UK businesses: A call for unified device management

A recent comprehensive study conducted by Scalefusion reveals glaring security flaws within UK businesses. The research, titled "Bridging the Visibility Gap," underscores how unmanaged or unseen devices have resulted in data breaches affecting nearly half (48.4%) of companies over the past year. These blind spots are leaving the UK's businesses open to cyber threats. 

The study found that more than two-thirds of IT leaders admitted their struggle to achieve total visibility over work devices in their organizations. About 23.5% of organizations frequently detect unauthorized devices accessing their corporate data, and over a third of breach victims endure attacks every month. Further, and more alarmingly, only 35% of IT leaders express high confidence in their team's capacity to contain and resolve security incidents swiftly.

Amidst the rise of hybrid and remote working arrangements, IT security teams face new challenges. Notably, 64% of organizations stumbled upon previously unknown devices or apps utilized for work within the last year, emphasizing the rise of shadow IT practices. Breaches involving unmanaged devices are not isolated incidents but systematic vulnerabilities, with over a third (35%) of those companies experiencing these breaches reporting attacks monthly.

The study highlights how efforts to tackle security issues often worsen them. A majority of businesses (59%) rely on four or more endpoint security tools, increasing complexity and inefficiency. Over half complain about high administrative burdens, while a lack of system interoperability troubles 35% of respondents. This proliferation also results in higher costs for 41% and significant visibility gaps for 37% of firms. Only 7% reported no problems from the multi-tool solution.

As Sally King from Scalefusion points out, "There's a critical gap between the security challenges organizations face and their ability to address them effectively. . What businesses need is visibility and simplification – a unified approach that brings all endpoints under one management umbrella rather than juggling multiple disconnected systems.”

As a response to these challenges, the appetite for Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) solutions is growing, representing the preferred method of employee onboarding (43%).  There is also promise in zero-touch deployment, with 68% of IT leaders favoring their potential to minimize device handling time.

The research reaffirms that organizations adopting unified solutions are better poised to tackle evolving security threats while reducing operational hurdles. A focus on holistic visibility and simplification is crucial for the future.