BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704, #TrendMicro) , a global leader in cloud-based security software and services, today releases new original research revealing fundamental differences in attitudes to Consumerization between senior business roles and senior IT roles, in Europe and the US.

IT Executives and CEO Survey Final Report will be released during Trend Micro's Mobile Security Forum (entitled Consumer Mobile Technology in the Enterprise: A Leap of Faith?) in Hall 7, Auditorium C, Wednesday 29 February, 1.30 p.m.,) at Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona.

The trend of Consumerization grows as employees continue to use their private mobile devices to access data on their corporate networks. It has obvious benefits in terms of convenience and productivity, but at the same time it presents significant risks to the security of the data being used. IT departments are powerless to stop this trend, as it has often been adopted by the most senior members of the business!

The IT Executives and CEO Survey Final Report was conducted across more than 850 decision makers from companies in the United States, UK and Germany. Just a few of its findings are as follows:

• 78 percent of companies permit employees to use their personal devices for work related activities
• Alarmingly, nearly 50 percent of the companies polled reported a data or security breach
• 100% of the data breaches reported above were as a result of an employee-owned device accessing their corporate network

Cesare Garlati, Senior Director, Mobile Security at Trend Micro, who is leading the Mobile Security Forum at which the research will be revealed, said, "Consumerization has irreversibly linked the mobile and internet security industries. Many CEOs are using unsecured mobile devices on a daily basis to access sensitive data on corporate networks. Trend Micro's new research shows that 75 percent of CEOs are using smartphones and other personal devices to connect to their company's network.

"As company leaders, CEOs need to take a stand on using personal devices in the workplace, but senior IT personnel need to have a plan too, and one which embraces Consumerization, rather than regarding it as an unattainable 'leap of faith'."

To see the Executive Summary of the research, visit: http://www.trendmicro.com/cloud-content/us/pdfs/rpt_decisive-analytics_mobile_Consumerization_trends_perceptions.pdf

Garlati also leads a panel discussion at the Forum, in which he will debate the following Consumerization themes:

• Consumerization is happening and can't be stopped – "Let's be clear," says Garlati, "Companies don't choose Consumerization, it happens to them, whether they know it, or like it."
• Consumerization is good for business - Making it more convenient for employees to access data in ways that suit them, using the devices they prefer, has obvious upside for productivity and employee engagement
• Consumerization risks include: security, costs, and reputation…. Consider an employee (or CEO) that leaves an unlocked personal iPad, containing employee salary data and bank account details, in a restaurant…. And much more.
• The real issue with Consumerization is the lack of education, best practices and actionable advice. This is what scares many businesses into labeling Consumerization a "leap of faith."

Garlati will use the Forum to provide this "actionable advice" to business, around four key behaviors:

• Embrace Consumerization to unlock its business potential
• Take a strategic approach and develop a robust Consumerization plan
• Have flexible policies (say yes, but not to everything and not for everyone!)
• Put the right technical infrastructure in place (data protection, mobile device management, mobile security)

The Mobile Security Forum – dates, times and further information

Trend Micro's Mobile Security Forum at MWC 2012 is on Wednesday 29th February, at 1.30 p.m. (Hall 7, Auditorium C.) It will also include a panel discussion on Consumerization featuring industry analysts Altimeter Group and Bloor Research, and a live demo showing how mobile malware can be used for illicit espionage.

You can also visit Trend Micro's MWC 2012 online media resources at:

• www.trendmicro.eu/mwcpress2012
• The MWC online Green Media Centre - http://www.virtualpressoffice.com/eventExhibitor.do?page=ep&companyId=1054105592947&showId=1621
• ShowStoppers (www.showstoppers.com)

For more information on Trend Micro's Mobile Security Forum activities at the event, visit http://www.mobileworldcongress.com/forum-series. Both Cesare Garlati and Rik Ferguson, Security Research and Communication Director, Trend Micro, are available for media interviews at MWC 2012.

About Trend Micro
Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global cloud security leader, creates a world safe for exchanging digital information with its Internet content security and threat management solutions for businesses and consumers. A pioneer in server security with over 20 years' experience, we deliver top-ranked client, server and cloud-based security that fits our customers' and partners' needs, stops new threats faster, and protects data in physical, virtualized and cloud environments. Powered by the industry-leading Trend Micro Smart Protection Network cloud computing security infrastructure, our products and services stop threats where they emerge – from the Internet. They are supported by 1,000+ threat intelligence experts around the globe.

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SOURCE Trend Micro Incorporated