BlackBerry QNX research reveals growing pressure on software engineer benefits

BlackBerry QNX

Waterloo, Ontario (ANTARA/Accesswire-AsiaNet)-

75% of developers admit that deadline urgency often compromises functional security, highlighting the tension between rapid innovation and maintaining robust, certified systems

WATERLOO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 8, 2024 / BlackBerry Limited (NYSE:BB)(TSX:BB), today unveiled new research highlighting the growing pressure on software engineers and developers to balance innovation fast with safety and security. The comprehensive survey of 1,000 embedded software developers and engineers from around the world revealed the growing tension between meeting tight project deadlines and maintaining functional security, with 75% of respondents acknowledging that urgency often forces them to compromise the key security requirements.

Widespread frustration leads 74% of developers to consider switching operating systems

While developers cite security (54%), cost control (52%) and security certifications (48%) as their “top” considerations when selecting an operating system, the survey it also highlights the significant downstream challenges in each of these areas that have led to the vast majority (74%) of respondents being open to changing their existing operating system. In fact, of those required to meet international security standards, 61% say it is extremely or very difficult to meet those specific standards with their current operating system. Security issues (36%) and lackluster performance issues (28%) are the top two reasons respondents are considering changing their current operating system.

Open source platforms are preferred but do not adhere to security standards

Open source operating systems are the preferred base platform for nearly half (44%) of developers, with an additional 25% indicating no preference for open source or proprietary offerings. Open source platforms are often adopted within development environments due to the high familiarity with the technology and its open availability, but importantly they do not carry the same security certifications as many proprietary options that go through a vetting and rigorous testing to achieve this; validate and verify each stage of the development process to ensure strict international security requirements are met.

“As we enter the ‘Software Defined Everything’ era, where devices and infrastructure increasingly rely on software for operations, new features and innovation, the importance of functional security (FuSa) and security are paramount,” said John Wall, SVP. and head of BlackBerry QNX. “While 90% of surveyed organizations recognize this as a priority, developers are under increasing pressure to meet deadlines and budgets, which is why pre-certified software is so important to enable organizations to not only achieve their goals, but do so without compromise.”

Security certification gaps cause costly delays and compliance issues

Worryingly, the survey also revealed that almost a third (31%) of all respondents admitted that their operating system did not have the required security certifications or only had “some” of them covered. This gap has undoubtedly contributed to delays for two-thirds of organizations as they face the complexity, time and average cost of $591,000 and 154 hours of company resources required to meet the standards evolving security.

Vulnerabilities and security breaches cause project delays

Security also remains an issue for developers, especially open source operating systems, which are more likely to experience a breach (46% vs. 40% for proprietary systems). Of those who have encountered a security breach or vulnerability in their operating system, 72% reported delays in project timelines directly due to security vulnerabilities, further exacerbating the challenges of maintaining both innovation such as robust and secure systems.

“To thrive in a software-driven world, developers need an operating system that prioritizes safety and security,” Wall added. “Pre-certified and secure design solutions allow teams to focus on innovation instead of troubleshooting. Choosing the right operating system can significantly transform your business by minimizing headaches and improving efficiency.”

Other key findings include:

• While 73% of organizations prioritize operating system security, the frequency of applying security patches varies, with a notable average of 5 weeks between updates.
• OS issues can have a significant impact on project timelines, with 34% of organizations reporting that they have missed deadlines due to OS-related issues, with an average delay of one month globally.

To learn more about how the BlackBerry QNX portfolio of embedded software solutions can help accelerate security certification, ensure reliability and reduce development time, visit BlackBerry QNX.

Methodology: The research was conducted between July and September by Coleman Parkes and commissioned by BlackBerry QNX, surveying 1,000 developers and embedded software engineers in North America (US and Canada), Europe (UK, France and Germany) and APAC (Japan, South Korea).

About BlackBerry

BlackBerry (NYSE:BB)(TSX:BB) provides intelligent security software and services to businesses and governments around the world. The company’s software powers more than 235 million vehicles. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the company leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to deliver innovative solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, security and data privacy solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint management , endpoint security, encryption and embedded systems. BlackBerry’s vision is clear: to ensure a connected future you can trust.

Trademarks, including but not limited to BLACKBERRY and EMBLEM Design, are trademarks or registered trademarks of BlackBerry Limited, and exclusive rights to such marks are expressly reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. BlackBerry is not responsible for any third-party products or services.

SOURCE: BlackBerry QNX

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