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As technology becomes more and more mobile, the number of devices employees use for work tasks increases.
Employees are using mobile phones, tablets, iPads, and public Wi-Fi to collect and send sensitive data. If your business is turning to mobile solutions, you might be wondering, do these mobile devices create security threats in your business?
The answer is yes and no. Mobile malware is actually pretty uncommon. However, there are some specific vulnerabilities in your mobile devices that might pose a cybersecurity risk. Once you know where these vulnerabilities are, you can manage them more easily.
Regulating Use of Personal and Work Devices
If your company handles sensitive information that employees access outside working hours or while on-the-go, the mobile security threat to your business increases. One of the very first actions you can take is taking stock of which company devices are being used for what, and by whom. Regulating these devices (and restricting personal use of company devices) can prevent malicious apps from being added and boost security instantly.
More worrisome than the personal use of company devices is the use of personal devices for work purposes. Many employees will use their personal phones, tablets, and laptops to check emails, log into accounts and apps, etc.
This is a major issue for many businesses.
Data leaks can happen without your knowledge. Privacy concerns become a serious threat. Not to mention, staff turnover can become a nightmare when you don’t have complete control over who can access your company data from remote locations.
Although 79% of businesses fear their employees are using devices recklessly, but only about 14% of businesses have done created mobile device regulations to prevent mobile threats. If you’re one of the 86% of businesses without any mobile security measures, it’s a great time to create those policies and procedures.
Alt-Tech Inc. is a managed IT service provider with plenty of experience in creating these types of plans for businesses. We’d love to share our documentation and processes with you and perform a full security analysis to test your current systems and security.
Physical Passwords & Entry
Surprisingly, one of the greatest risks when using mobile devices isn’t locked in the operating system; it’s the physical device itself. While it’s difficult to steal a stationary computer system, swiping a phone or iPad isn’t too hard.
Of course, the best prevention for this type of situation is employee training. Everyone using mobile devices outside the office should be aware of what’s being taken for use, where it is at all times, and whether it’s stored in a secure place. Maintaining an inventory of work-related devices can help ensure every device is accounted for at the end of the day.
However, lost or stolen devices are always a possibility. To prevent anyone who finds or takes the device from easily accessing the data from the device (or from connected devices), passwords and security precautions can be taken. Ensure all devices have passwords that are updated on a regular basis. Two-factor authentication is another great idea when logging into specific apps on devices. This might seem a little tedious, but remember that it’s not always beneficial to sacrifice security for convenience.
Malware Downloads
Downloadable apps from trusted sources are perfectly safe. However, unregulated or unverified mobile app stores allow downloads with malware hidden in them to sneak by. These malware attacks might impact performance but can also result in major privacy concerns.
Ensure the regulations for employees using mobile devices includes a list of safe sources for downloads and restricts the number or type of downloads. You can also keep top-down control on downloads by restricting them on the device and requiring an authentication code reserved for management.
Disaster Recovery Plans
When an attack or security threat happens on a mobile device, having backup and disaster recovery services on hand is essential. There are plenty of managed IT providers in Edmonton and there are many benefits of outsourcing your disaster recovery services. We recommend seeking out a qualified managed service provider to test your mobile security and offer a fully customized plan for your needs.
Next Steps
When it comes to mobile devices, data protection can be difficult to guarantee. Here are four basic actions you can take to start protecting your business from mobile security threats today:
- Employee Training & Education
- Network Security & Monitoring
- Passwords & Authentication
- Enterprise Mobile Management Tools
Finally, you can find a managed IT service in Edmonton. Alt-Tech would be happy to analyze your needs and provide a custom plan for your mobile security. Get in touch to book your free consultation.
