Best Practices According to an HP Study

 

Introduction:

In a recent study conducted by Forrester Consulting and published by HP, it was revealed that 75% of companies are facing IT-related challenges in hybrid work. This situation underscores the crucial importance of continuous equipment management to meet the needs of globally dispersed workers.

Operational Challenges of Hybrid Work:

Currently, 72% of companies are adopting a hybrid work model. However, 75% of them report that transitioning to remote work models has heightened operational IT challenges. Companies now grapple with the need to strike a balance between equipment administration, maintaining user experience, and risk management.

Key Insights from the Study "Mastering Equipment Security in a Hybrid World" (2023):

1-Major Issues in Remote Equipment Management:

  • Equipment protection (60%)
  • Data accuracy (55%)
  • Firmware updates (55%)

2-Firmware Update Frequency:

  • Only 42% of companies perform annual updates.
  • 23% do so every two years or less.
  • 12% only update "when necessary," rendering them vulnerable and causing compatibility issues.

3-Concerns Regarding Secure Communication:

  • 67% believe that secure and continuous communication with remote terminals is a major concern for their IT department.

IT Security Challenges:

  • 50% of IT departments consider inappropriate security solutions as the main problem.
  • 54% believe full disk encryption is effective but often insufficient, especially if a cybercriminal has physical access to the device.

Adapting Security Strategies:

With evolving work modes and the widespread adoption of remote work, companies must adapt their security strategies. Ian Pratt, Global Head of Personal Systems Security for HP, emphasizes that companies urgently need administration tools and equipment designed for this new way of working.

Effective Equipment Management for Increased Productivity:

75% of respondents believe that better equipment management would have a positive impact on overall company efficiency and productivity. To address these needs, companies express the need for more effective monitoring software for PCs, capabilities for device backup and restoration, automation of system recovery processes, BIOS updates, and equipment geolocation.

Practical Solutions:

Solutions such as HP Wolf Protect and Trace and HP Wolf Connect enable remote locating, locking, and erasing of a PC, even when it is powered off or not connected to the Internet. Notably, 82% of respondents are willing to invest in such solutions.

Conclusion:

Ian Pratt concludes by highlighting the importance of continuous fleet management to establish a secure device lifecycle and manage dispersed work environments. Real-time device management enables companies to protect sensitive data even when employees work remotely, while reducing IT costs related to device repair or replacement.