PC Market Struggle May Indicate Shift in Security Need

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The computing market has shown further signs of shifting away from PCs to moveable devices like mobiles and tablets, according to a new report.

A study by IHS found shipments of PCs declined in the second quarter of 2013, with the total of 74.4 million between April and June representing a 13 per cent drop – the largest fall in the last eight quarters. Not since the first quarter of 2012 has the sector expanded.

IHS suggested this is not due to any short-term trend, with the overall annual number of shipments declining for the first time in 2012 and on course to do so again this year.

The company concluded: "PCs have reached a point in time in which the machines have to prove that they still remain valid to the consumer, IHS believes.

"While no one disputes that computers will continue to exist, sales have been discouraging and consumers have defected in droves to smartphones and tablets instead – devices considered as more portable and appealing."

This shift may increasingly steer companies towards needing to make their IT security more mobile. While the growing use of mobile and tablets will help companies with a lack of office space as less is taken up with PCs, there can be a greater danger of data loss due to devices that can be carried around getting stolen. The same also applies to data-carrying items like a memory stick.

Such factors may remain relevant despite IHS suggesting 2014 will see an upturn in PC sales. This will be caused by Microsoft ending its support for Windows XP, which will mean everyone will have to switch to Windows 8 – something many older machines may not be able to do.

The IDC MarketScape vendor assessment of the data protection and recovery software market in Europe recently suggested that as firms develop their IT usage, there may be a range of different solutions that are either more or less appropriate for any given company, as the needs of firms will differ from those of others according to size and numerous other factors. It said this means solutions should be tailored to each company's needs.

Storetec News/Blogs."http://www.storetec.net/news-blog/pc-market-struggle-may-indicate-shift-in-security-need/". PC Market Struggle May Indicate Shift in Security Need. Oct 17,2013. Storetec.