Data Security and Cloud-Based Solutions Top European IT Investment Priorities
Toshiba research to feature in new ‘Make IT Work’ guide for CIOs, which explores how mid-size and corporate companies can overcome today’s IT challenges
Neuss, Germany, 19th May 2016: Toshiba Europe GmbH today reveals data security (54%) and new cloud-based solutions (52%) are the key areas of investment for IT departments in Europe this year. The company established this as part of a new study of 400 senior IT decision makers from medium and large organisations in the UK, France and Germany.
The research, commissioned by Toshiba with independent market research firm ICM Unlimited, highlights the challenges IT staff face in the midst of a growing proliferation of devices and rise of the Internet of Things, and how these trends are driving new and increased expectations from both employees and the boardroom. This ranges from the management of software upgrades – which respondents from the UK (36%) and Germany (39%) regard as their biggest challenge when managing multiple devices at scale – to protecting their business from security threats which can make their way through this increasing range of touchpoints.
As we see more devices than ever before become capable of connecting to company data, with 62% of staff across all markets using personal devices including smartphones (42%) and tablets (31%) to work remotely, businesses are rightly considering security as a top priority.
The results also show that multiple threats to IT security are leading businesses to carry out frequent reviews, with over 60% of the businesses surveyed reviewing their security strategy at least once a year. Across the UK and Germany, one in five senior IT decision makers view external cyber-attacks as the biggest risk to an organisation’s corporate security, whereas viruses (22%) are the key cause for concern in France.
In order to ensure an adequate balance of security, while still enabling staff to thrive while using their device of choice, smart, considered IT purchases are crucial. Poor battery life (41%) is one of the main complaints faced by senior IT decision makers, demonstrating that businesses must focus on investing in devices which are built with business-use in mind, such as Toshiba’s Portégé Z20t-C which provides up to 17 hours of battery life.
Cloud solutions are also a key investment priority, helping companies to remain ahead of the competition as they enable more simple management of the data, documents and applications employees use on their devices. Through cloud computing, businesses are able to use IT on demand, enabling them to upscale or downsize their computing provisions in line with business growth.
Make IT Work
Further results from the study and additional insight feature in Toshiba’s new ‘Make IT Work’ guide, which launches today across Europe and is available to download from the ‘Make IT Work’ website. It is designed to address the key challenges currently faced by senior IT decision makers and is presented in chapters which echo the primary pillars of Toshiba’s business products and solutions ethos – security, reliability, connectivity, stronger and manageablility.
Neil Bramley, B2B PC Business Unit Director, Toshiba Europe says: “Technological innovation continues to permeate the consumer and professional worlds. It acts as a great enabler of efficiency but, as senior IT decision makers across the continent have echoed, it also needs to be implemented in a way that is manageable at scale and ensures a reliable, secure and consistently connected experience.”
“However, with 81% of senior IT decision makers regarding data security as a key priority for IT security spend and cyber-attacks being seen as the biggest threat to corporate security, it’s crucial IT teams practice what they preach,” adds Neil Bramley. “Our research reveals that unauthorised use of IT systems and solutions is common practice within organisations and employees in IT departments (41%) are thought to be the most frequent users to bend the rules. We hope our guide helps to make senior IT decision makers more conscious of these types of potential pitfalls, as well as any vulnerabilities in their processes and infrastructure.”
The new guide and study are a continuation of Toshiba’s pan-European ‘Make IT Work’ campaign, which launched in February of this year alongside the company’s new range of dedicated business devices – its largest to date including the Portégé Z20t-C, Z30-C and Tecra A40-C. The campaign is supported by an investment of over €1 million, and reaffirms Toshiba’s commitment to the B2B market, particularly targeting mid-size and corporate organisations.
-ENDS-
Note to editors:
ICM Unlimited conducted n=400 interviews among senior IT decision makers in medium and large organisations in the UK (145), France (126) and Germany (129). Fieldwork took place between Thursday 3rd – Thursday 17th March 2016.
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About Toshiba
Toshiba Corporation, a Fortune Global 500 company, channels world-class capabilities in advanced electronic and electrical product and systems into three focus business fields: Energy that sustains everyday life, that is cleaner and safer; Infrastructure that sustains quality of life; and Storage that sustains the advanced information society. Guided by the principles of The Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future”, Toshiba promotes global operations and is contributing to the realization of a world where generations to come can live better lives.
Founded in Tokyo in 1875, today’s Toshiba is at the heart of a global network of 550 consolidated companies employing 188,000 people worldwide, with annual sales surpassing 5.7 trillion yen (US$50 billion). (As of March 31, 2016.)
To find out more about Toshiba, visit www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm