In a recent survey, Sophos examined the security strategies of companies implementing 5G technology. The survey results show that opinions and deployment of 5G vary greatly depending on the size of the company and the role of the employees surveyed, revealing different perspectives.
Table of Contents: What awaits you in this article
Companies and Positions in Contrast: The Differences
According to the survey, only a maximum of 20 percent of the IT professionals surveyed are actually interested in introducing 5G in their companies, although they recognise the special security needs of this technology. In companies with 100 to 499 employees, the participants were predominantly CIOs and IT managers (44 percent), while in larger companies with more than 500 employees, classic IT employees (43 percent) answered the survey.
How 5G influences tactical decision-making
5G technology is proving to be both a strategic and pragmatic solution for connecting IoT and OT in small and medium-sized enterprises. The approval of 91 percent of CIOs and IT managers underlines the importance of this technology for optimising production lines, machine-to-machine communication and logistics, while in larger companies 83 percent of traditional IT employees consider 5G more of a potential network technology.
The right order: prioritising application areas in the IoT
A clear consensus was reached by CIOs, IT directors and IT staff, who unanimously confirmed that the greatest demand for 5G is in manufacturing and logistics. This finding was supported by 58 per cent of companies with 100 to 499 employees and 67 per cent of companies with over 500 employees.
Why everyone should care about 5G security
According to a survey of IT experts, most respondents (approx. 74 percent) agree that the implementation of 5G technology requires special security measures. However, the assessments regarding the necessity of such measures vary depending on the size of the company and the position of the respondents. While 22 percent of CIOs and IT managers in companies with 100 to 499 employees do not consider any specific security measures necessary, only 15 percent of traditional IT employees in larger companies with over 500 employees share this opinion.
Inadequate security measures put smart devices at risk”
Despite the recognition of the need for security, many companies show a lack of consistency in implementing security measures. In both companies with 100 to 499 employees, especially among CIOs and IT directors, and companies with over 500 employees, especially among traditional IT staff, 43 per cent of respondents indicated that they are not implementing specific security measures for the use of 5G.
A survey conducted in the second quarter of 2023 in collaboration with Sophos and techconsult investigated the use of 5G technology among IT managers and staff at 200 German companies with a workforce of 100 to more than 500. The results provide insights into the current status and trends in the use of 5G in German companies.
