Absolute Software reveals new research that highlights 25-30 percent of enterprise devices has unhealthy security controls

Absolute Software, the only provider of self-healing, intelligent security solutions, has revealed new research highlighting that 25-30 percent of enterprise devices have unhealthy security controls.

The findings in Absolute’s ‘2023 Resilience Index’ contract the long-held belief that having more security solutions directly equates to more protection. The report leverages the analysis of over 14 million anonymised customer devices to benchmark for organisations looking to strengthen their resilience in today’s widely distributed, hybrid workplaces.

Unhealthy security controls

The data revealed that essential security tools, such as anti-virus, Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPP) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) are often not functioning effectively, with over a quarter of devices recording unhealthy security controls.

Security that is not installed or working effectively cannot protect you"

“Security that is not installed or working effectively cannot protect you,” said Christy Wyatt, President and CEO of Absolute Software.

She adds, “The criticality of these security controls, especially among remote and hybrid workers cannot be overstated and the ability to keep them healthy is often oversimplified. Even market-leading, world-class software requires repairing for many reasons: changing in the environment around it, or new forms of risk introduced by adversaries or even by the use. By applying intelligence and automation to heal them, we can remediate the risk, restore the user experience, and ensure compliance.”

Average enterprise device

The work-from-anywhere model is exacerbating the strain on IT and security teams – compounding existing device health and security challenges with a broad mix of networks, hardware, OS versions, and patches.

More than 80 percent of devices analysed use the Microsoft® Windows® OS, with the large majority on Windows 10 – and within that device population, there are 14 different versions and more than 800 builds and patches to manage.

Absolute’s telemetry data also shows there are 67 applications installed on the average enterprise device, with 10 percent of those devices having more than 100 applications installed. 

Hybrid work models

The average number of enterprise device locations across Absolute customers has grown 15 percent

Other key insights from the ‘2023 Resilience Index’ include: 

Distributed, highly mobile users compound complexity: The average number of enterprise device locations across Absolute customers has grown 15 percent year-over-year, with an average of four locations per device observed in February 2023.

Hybrid working means heavy reliance on third-party networks: In hybrid work models, critical applications like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) need to be deployed, installed, and up to date. However, Absolute data shows this critical tool is either not installed or is not at the required version level on more than 30 percent of devices.

Self-healing capability

Embedded in the firmware of more than 600 million devices, Absolute enables visibility and control across endpoints, applications, and network connections.

Leveraging their unique self-healing capability, customers can protect devices, data, and users and ensure that critical security controls operate at maximum effectiveness, while also delivering an optimal remote and mobile user experience.

Leveraging their patented Absolute Persistence® technology and Absolute Application Resilience capabilities, both enterprises and security vendors can optimise application efficacy and strengthen security and compliance posture.