The study - sponsored by Trend Micro and entitled `The Data Sharing Paradox' – says that, whilst smaller firms acknowledge that enabling access to data for remote employees and users from external organisations is central to their ongoing efficiency, there are significant worries about the risks involved. And adds the report, there is a definite need to resolve this paradox.
The report – which is authored by Bob Tarzey and Rob Bamforth of the business and IT analysis house - draws on research that looks at the scale of the problem, supported by data from 350 interviews with organisations with
between 3 and about 100 employees in Europe, USA and Australia.
The study says that the devices of external users may be beyond the control of the average small business’s IT managers – assuming they exist in the first place. Against this backdrop, therefore, Quocirca argues that having an easy, centralised way to share data with them securely is essential.
However, when it comes to the devices of employees themselves there is a side benefit provided by many central file sharing services – data backup.
The way these services work, says the study, is that, when it is accepted that certain content can be stored on the user’s device, the device can synchronise with that data as and when it changes. This means that, if one user changes a file of interest to a second user, the updated version is copied to their device next time it is online.
“In reverse, this means that content created on the device itself can be backed up on the central store on a regular basis. Whether this is data created for business or personal use, such capabilities will be valued by the users”, says the report.
“For smartphones this may be mainly photos, but for laptops and tablets documents prepared whilst working remotely can be securely copied to a central location”, the report adds.
The study concludes that all firms, right down to the smallest, need to find ways of securely enabling remote access to data for their employees and the users of organisations with which they have shared business processes.
“There are a number of ways of achieving this. One of the most flexible is an on-demand file sharing service. This is cheaper and less complex than running and providing access to an internal server for this purpose”, says the report.
“It is also easier to implement for employees using their own devices, or for external users, than deploying virtual desktops or specific applications to achieve the same end”, it adds.
And the bottom line?
“Those organisations that do not find effective ways of sharing such data will lose competitive edge. However, those that do share data, but have too little control over it, will be introducing unacceptable levels of risk in to their organisations”, the report concludes.