The majority - 83 percent - of Federal IT executives believe that wireless Internet can be used securely. As a result, Federal agencies are increasingly allowing employees to use the technology to realize productivity and continuity of business operations gains. Further, teleworkers are much more aware of and compliant with their agency's related security policies than non-teleworkers, according to a recent study conducted by Telework Exchange and Sprint.

"Federal Mobility 2.0" based its findings on an online survey of 150 Federal IT professionals and 160 Federal employees representing both the Department of Defense and Federal civilian agencies. Of those, 48 percent of the study participants are teleworkers.

At present, 53 percent of Federal employees are using wireless Internet to access data and their agency's IT infrastructure, with 97 percent using it for e-mail, 61 percent for Web-based applications, and 48 percent for network services. Given these high percentages, the study noted that secure access is essential.

The biggest potential security risk with wireless Internet connections is failing to use encryption; the study found that 13 percent of new laptops issued to Federal employees do not include encryption software for wireless or other communications.

Federal IT executives interviewed for the study suggested a layered approach works best for securing wireless Internet, including the use of connection and security technologies, such as Virtual Private Network (VPN), remote client access, and encryption. Other key components are effective loss management policies and practical data access management.

Nonetheless, despite the availability of secure tools and methods, the study found that many employees are engaging in risky behavior, especially non-teleworkers. Sixty-eight percent of non-teleworkers use their wireless connection in public places and 13 percent of whom borrow a neighbor's wireless Internet, versus 35 percent and 6 percent, respectively, of official teleworkers.

The report concluded that more work needs to be done. The authors recommended that agencies take time to conduct more employee education on the specific steps required to ensure secure wireless Internet connections are used and that users encrypt all data stored on laptops and transmitted over the Internet.

To learn more about the "Federal Mobility 2.0" findings, view the full report at www.teleworkexchange.com/mobility.