Whether you’re at home, at work, or on the go, you can never be too careful with mobile device security.
A leaked photo. A breach in company data. An employee who just downloaded the wrong app. Each of these situations can put your business at great risk for cybersecurity attacks.
To mitigate these risks, it’s crucial to do everything you can to protect your company’s mobile devices.
From training your team on device security to hiring a cybersecurity expert to audit your current practices, there’s a lot you can do to protect your business.
Let’s take a closer look at mobile device security and why it matters. We’ll also take a look at five mobile device vulnerabilities every company should be on the lookout for.
Ready to learn more?
Let’s begin.
What is mobile device security?
Mobile device security means taking measures to keep your portable devices safe from cyber threats and attacks. Cybercriminals specialize in these attacks in an attempt to violate your privacy and steal sensitive data.
Cybercriminals are on the hunt for:
- Medical records
- Bank information
- Login and password information
- Credit card information
- Data they can sell
- Money transfer information
- Virtual goods
- Software licenses
- Access to your email account
With this in mind, let’s take a look at seven specific things you can protect with mobile security measures.
How can mobile device security protect my business?
There are many ways mobile device security can protect your business and personal assets. From making sure information stays out of the wrong hands to being proactive about phishing prevention, there are several measures you can take to keep your data safe.
Let’s take a close look at what mobile device security can help you protect.
Mobile device security measures can help protect your:
Reputation
You’ve worked hard to build a name for yourself and nurture your brand. The last thing you’d want is a security breach threatening your reputation. Because many people choose to ignore identity theft protection measures, they jeopardize their reputation on a regular basis.
Identity
Once identity fraud hits you, it can spread like wildfire. One minute you’re sending a bank wire to a vendor. The next minute you’re getting tens of emails confirming loan applications you never applied for.
Assets
Whether it’s stealing your passwords or hacking into your bookkeeping software, cybercriminals would love nothing more than to exploit your personal and business assets.
Internet history
Are you doing research for a top-secret business collaboration, or to boost your revenue operations? Did you accidentally stumble upon an inappropriate site? Your internet history can be a major breeding ground for cybercrimes and privacy issues if you don’t have preventative measures in place.
Sensitive information
You might think your business doesn’t have sensitive information. But the truth is, every business does. If you file taxes, sign contracts, hire employees, or order inventory, your business has sensitive information you need to protect.
Passwords
Did you know that stolen passwords are one of the easiest and most common causes of data breaches? Even complex passwords can be compromised without security measures in place.
5 vulnerabilities to watch out for on mobile devices
The best way to get familiar with mobile vulnerabilities is to hire a cybersecurity expert to audit your current practices. If you’re a business, hiring an in-house expert or Chief Security Officer (CSO) is highly recommended. Not only can an expert give you a crash course on all things cybersecurity, but they can also create a custom prevention plan for your business.
A cybersecurity expert might recommend mobile device management software, employee security training, and specific IT measures to keep your business safe.
They’ll also go over all of your vulnerabilities, five of which will likely include:
1. Exposure to financial information
Now more than ever, people are using finance tracking apps to manage their money. These apps contain sensitive data, such as account numbers, passwords, and identity information.
Other online financials and tools that may currently be at risk include:
- Budgeting and/or bookkeeping software
- Invoice management software
- Company log
- Budgeting documents and forms (this helps with business automation as well)
- Employee payroll information
- Payroll apps and software
- Inventory management software
- Apps to online stores
Staying on top of financial information vulnerabilities is essential to preventing major business losses and security breaches.
To protect your business’s financial assets, practice the following tips:
- Avoid public WiFi networks
- Use a password manager tool, like LastPass
- Turn off your Bluetooth settings
- Enable two-factor authentication on all devices
- Keep your operating systems up to date
- Consider using biometric security technology, such as fingerprint scanning, on all of your devices
2. Poor password creation and management
Just about every program, tool, or app you use requires a password, even some online newspapers and blogs. For instance, this page on SaaS examples asks users to log in to access the full content. With stolen credentials being the most common cause of data breaches, it’s critical to prioritize having strong password hygiene.
To promote password hygiene:
- Put secure locks on all of your devices
- Set up a clear device protocol if someone enters an incorrect password multiple times
- Use a password management tool
- Change your passwords frequently
- Choose a different password for each login
- Never choose a password based on personal information
- Never share your passwords with anyone
- Choose complex passwords that include various characters, upper and lower case letters, special characters, and numbers
3. Opening fraudulent emails or messages
It’s easy to get stuck in a routine of checking your email on autopilot. But taking a lax approach to email security is a quick way to set yourself up for cybersecurity crimes.
To keep email security top of mind, implement the following tips:
- Only open emails from addresses you know and trust
- Install email security software on all of your devices
- Screen a new user thoroughly before responding to their message
- Delete emails or messages you suspect could be fraudulent
- Report fraudulent emails to your email service provider
- Warn your team about the latest email scams and cybercrimes
4. Visiting unsecured sites
With 1.88 billion [*] websites on the internet and counting, it only makes sense that you’ll come across an unsecured website every now and then.
From stealing company data to infecting your hardware with viruses, unsecured websites can cause damage in a matter of seconds.
To prevent unwanted cybersecurity crimes from spammy sites, follow these best practices:
- Set up virus protection software on all of your devices
- Train your staff on virus prevention practices
- Train your staff on how to spot unsecured websites
- Only download files you know and trust
- Keep your virus protection software updated
- Pay attention to security warnings that pop up on your computer
- Pay attention to internet browser warnings
- Make sure security warnings are legitimate before trusting a source or clicking a link
- If you suspect a site has a virus, leave the site immediately by clicking on the top right corner of the screen
- Restart your computer if you suspect it was in contact with a spammy website
5. Downloading unsecured apps
With apps comes an influx of security risks — and we’re not just talking about malware and viruses. We’re talking about the potential for major privacy nightmares.
Here’s what we recommend doing to prevent unwanted cybersecurity and privacy risks:
- Only download apps you know and trust
- Use a no log VPN if you’re using a device in public
- Keep your apps up to date
- Research apps thoroughly before downloading them
- Use Google Play Protect to check your apps for harmful behavior
- Think carefully before granting app permissions
- Never download apps from unofficial stores
Are you currently using any of these tips? Which tips would you like to implement next? Let us know in the comments below.
Did you like this article? Then you’ll love our blog. Head on over for more mobile device security tips and resources for your business.
Sources:
[*] statista.com
