BlackBerry QNX Research: UK Organisations Face Growing OS Security & Safety Concerns, Amid Rush for Innovation

BlackBerry Limited, today unveiled new research highlighting the mounting pressure on software engineers and developers to balance rapid innovation with safety and security. The comprehensive global survey of 1,000 embedded software developers and engineers, including 150 in the UK, revealed rising concerns over security in Operating Systems (OS) as well as the compromises they’ve been forced to make in functional safety measures due to internal demands.

 

Operating System security is a major priority for UK organisations 

Security remains a pain point for developers, particularly for Open-Source OS, which is more likely to experience a breach (52% vs. 31% for proprietary systems). In fact, 71% of UK organisations are considering switching their OS, with 37% ranking security concerns as a top priority for doing so.

As such, when selecting a new OS, 57% of UK organisations now rank security concerns as one of their most important considerations, with 31% arguing it is the number one priority in the decision-making process. This likely stems from the fact 41% of UK organisations state they have experienced security breaches or vulnerabilities previously with their current OS.

“The findings underline the reality that, as UK organisations rush to innovate, security is still rightly front and foremost of business’ minds. As such, developers need an OS with security built into its core – one they can trust for reliable and safe embedded software. Having confidence and trust in the software empowers developers to collaborate more effectively, streamline processes, and get their products to market faster,” said João Pereira, Director, EMEA General Embedded Market Sales at BlackBerry QNX.

 

OS Safety Certification Gaps Lead to Costly Delays and Compliance Hurdles

Worryingly, the survey also revealed that a quarter (28%) of UK respondents did not have confidence that their OS has the necessary safety certifications. One in seven (14%) UK respondents said they firmly believe that their OS lacks the requisite safety features, while an additional 14% of UK respondents said their OS was only partially safety compliant. This gap has no doubt contributed to delays for three in five (58%) of UK organisations as they grapple with the complexity, time, and cost—averaging £427,000 and 154 hours of company resources—needed to meet evolving safety standards.

Other key findings include:

• The pressure to deliver on time and budget is causing 77% of UK software developers and engineers to admit compromising on critical safety aspects.
• While 74% of UK organisations consider security a “Top” or “High” priority in their software and applications, the frequency of applying security patches varies, with a notable average of 5 weeks between updates.
• Operating system issues can have a significant impact on project timelines, with 29% of UK organisations reporting that they have missed deadlines due to time spent developing, certifying and testing their OS.

“As we enter the era of ‘Software-Defined Everything,’ where devices and infrastructure increasingly rely on software for operations, new features, and innovation, the importance of functional (FuSa) safety is paramount. While 91% of UK organisations surveyed recognise this as a priority, it’s clear developers are under growing pressure to meet deadlines and budgets, which is why pre-certified software is so important to enabling organisations not only meet their goals, but doing so without compromise,” explains Pereira.

“Pre-certified, secure-by-design solutions allow teams to focus on innovation rather than troubleshooting. Choosing the right OS can significantly transform your business by minimising headaches and enhancing efficiency,” Pereira finishes.

For more information on how BlackBerry QNX’s portfolio of embedded software solutions can help accelerate safety-certification, ensure reliability and reduce development time, visit BlackBerry QNX.

Methodology: Research was conducted in from July to September by Coleman Parkes and commissioned by BlackBerry QNX, surveying 1,000 embedded software developers and engineers across North America (USA and Canada), Europe (UK, France, and Germany), and APAC (Japan, South Korea). 150 of the respondents were based in the UK.