With 46% of unlicensed software, BSA study shows Brazil vulnerable to cyber attacks

 

 

2018 Global Software Survey quantified the volume and value of unlicensed software from 110 countries and markets

 
BSA Global Survey | The Software Alliance indicates that 46% of the software installed on Brazilian computers is not properly licensed, which represents a commercial value of 1.7 billion dollars. The number is one percentage point lower than that recorded in the 2016 edition of the study.
 
Throughout 2017, the “2018 Global Software Survey: Software Management: Security Imperative, Business Opportunity” quantified the volume and value of unlicensed software installed in more than 110 countries and markets, and surveyed more than 23 thousand consumers, employees and CIOs. The study is conducted every two years and is available here: https://we.tl/JzbNRCVDN4.
 
“Brazil has progressed and registered the lowest rate in Latin America, however the drop in the index, by one percentage point, was lower than that recorded in 2015, of 3 points, compared to 2013”, explains the country manager of BSA. to Brazil, Antonio Eduardo Mendes da Silva, known in the market as Pitanga. “The result is positive, but there is still a lot to be done”, he adds.
 
For Pitanga, awareness campaigns promoted by partnerships between entities such as BSA and ABES (Brazilian Association of Software Companies) contributed to the Brazilian result, in addition to the existence of specific laws on intellectual property and software. “However, the reduction in the index could have been greater if we had had more repression measures”, says Pitanga.
 
In Latin America, the country is followed by Colombia and Mexico, which recorded unlicensed software usage rates of 48% and 49%, respectively. The countries with the highest percentages were Venezuela, with 89%, and Nicaragua, with 81%. The global rate points to 37% of usage of software that is not properly licensed. The lowest index is from Japan, 16%, and the highest is from Libya, with 90% of irregular software.
 
One of the main risks linked to the use of irregular software is cyber attacks. Every second, eight new malware threats emerge. Companies can take up to 243 days to identify an attack and another 50 days to resolve it. These attacks cost the company an average of $2.4 million, which translates to a 0.8% drop in global GDP.
"Organizations around the world are missing out on the economic benefits and security that well-managed software offers," says BSA President and CEO | The Software Alliance, Victoria Espinel. “Enterprises must establish software asset management (SAM) programs to assess and manage the software on their networks. This, in turn, helps organizations reduce the risk of debilitating cyberattacks and increase their revenues.” 
 
Other research findings:
 
•          The use of unlicensed software, although having a slight decline, is still very widespread.. Unlicensed software is still used worldwide at alarming rates, accounting for 37% of software installed on personal computers – a drop of just 2% from 2015.
 
•          CIOs Report Unlicensed Software Is Increasingly Risky and Expensive. Malware from unlicensed software costs companies worldwide nearly US$ 359 billion a year. CIOs report that preventing data theft and other security threats from malware is a key reason to ensure their networks are fully licensed.
 
•          Improving software compliance is now a cost-effective enabler as well as a security imperative. When companies take pragmatic steps to improve software management, profits can increase by up to 11%.
 
•          Organizations can take significant steps today to improve software management. Studies show that organizations can enjoy up to 30% of annual software cost savings by implementing a robust software license and SAM optimization program.
 
Through in-depth analysis, research shows that companies can implement strong measures, including SAM programs, to improve the way they manage software, increasing profits, decreasing security risks and expanding opportunities.
 
To explore the survey results, including a detailed analysis of country-specific data, visit www.bsa.org/globalstudy.