The last few months have drastically increased our reliance on mobile capabilities. Through the increased use of corporate mobile apps, virtual private networks (VPNs), hot spots and more, mobile communications are more critical than ever. Because of this enhanced, unprecedented and sudden dependence on mobile capabilities, mobile security should be at the forefront of everybody’s minds — not just the minds of security professionals.
“Mobile devices have rapidly replaced the personal computer at home and in the workplace,” notes Europol. “Our phones or tablets are in fact mini-computers, and should be protected as such. They face the same or even more threats than a PC or a laptop.”
Despite this obvious fact, we still make mistakes. According to the Verizon Mobile Security Index 2020 report, 43 percent of companies surveyed admit they sacrificed security for expediency, convenience or profitability targets, or due to a lack of budget or expertise.
Organisations need to better understand and communicate what needs to be done to accomplish business and security goals, from the top down. But as endpoints proliferate in your organisation’s network, so do opportunities for a security breach.
Today’s Common Threats
Answer this simple question: Are mobile apps, generally speaking, designed for the purpose of convenience and productivity or security and risk minimisation? If we’re being honest, we know the answer is convenience and productivity.
Now apply the same question to all-around mobile usage. We don’t carry laptops, tablets and phones around because they are less vulnerable and reduce risk; in fact, they are inherently vulnerable and their use increases risk. We use them because they make our lives easier and increase our productivity.
Therefore, how we prevent mobile security threats from harming us and our data, has little to do with what technical solutions we come up with. Instead, it is a question of supply and demand and where we assign value.
Prioritizing What Matters: From Convenience to Data
To reduce the risk of our mobile apps and improve our mobile security posture, the first step is identifying the demand for various commodity mobile capabilities. What types of commodities are we talking about? Well, anything deemed valuable.
Tackling the mobile security issue is complex. You need to start with simple solutions, like getting the basics right, understanding the demands of your business and deciding what risks you want to take on. Address those issues and everything else becomes easier.
LoughTec support, protect and manage IT Infrastructure for organisations throughout the UK and RoI. We add value to our business relationships through our technical expertise, experience plus a strategic and hands-on approach to our managed IT services.
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