The limitless proliferation of mobile endpoints, applications and sophisticated IT processes have totally redefined the benefits of enterprise mobility. Companies are fast embracing its varied facets to keep at par with the latest technological advancements, enterprise innovations, rising competition, market demand, customer experience and overall business returns.
Enterprise mobility has turned into one of the core facilitators of higher business efficiency, productivity, flexibility, precision, and agility. However, there are certain risks associated with enterprise mobility, which can prove detrimental for your business, if not managed efficiently. Hence, mitigating these enterprise mobility risks is as important as having a well-defined corporate mobility strategy.
Let’s understand the key areas where these risks can make maximum business impact:
- Device level
- Network level
- Apps & Data level
All these areas or levels can be highly influenced by the following 5 kinds of risks or threats. Let’s discuss one after the other.
1. Risks posed by device diversity
There are a variety of mobile devices used by the employees in the organizations, which are of different make, built and operating systems. Over and above, they may or may not be provided by the companies. Hence, the multiple varieties of mobile devices, different ownership models and multiple platforms create a highly heterogeneous mobile environment, which can pose certain critical security risks, if not managed and monitored correctly.
2. Risks posed by data breach
The small, handy and easily portable mobile devices are often susceptible to loss or misplacement. And they can be easily stolen as well. The challenge is, these enterprise endpoints like smartphones, mPOS, tablets and laptops carry sensitive and critical company information, customer data, enterprise apps, content and employee details, which if stolen or lost can incur hefty cost and irreplaceable damage due to data breach. And no organization can afford such critical security incidences. Hence, it should be the foremost step for the companies to have a flawless security policy in place before implementing business mobility strategies.
3. Risks posed by the age of devices
Mobile technologies are evolving every day. For instance, sometimes before you even make up your mind to buy a new smartphone, a new version is already launched. The same happens with the companies when the already existing mobile devices used by the employees need to be changed or upgraded with the new OS versions. However, at certain situations, companies fail to keep their enterprise endpoints updated with the latest OS versions and security patches. As a result, they become vulnerable to the new and emerging cyber threats that are evolving at the same pace at which technologies are making a difference! Thus, it becomes imperative for the companies to keep a tab on the age of their enterprise devices and endpoints.
4. Risks posed by hyperconnectivity
Sometimes employees access unsecured Wi-Fi hotspots unknowingly or when they are in a hurry to find out something from the internet. When mobile devices access the internet through unsecured networks, the chances of those device hacking and other security breaches increase tenfold! This is a critical enterprise mobility risk that can give rise to even bigger and expensive troubles. The readily available technologies to hack into wireless networks make man-in-the-middle attacks and Wi-Fi hacking easier to perform. The rising dangers of cyber-attack are today’s greatest IT threats that CTOs and decision makers must be able to deal with.
5. Risks posed by malicious Apps
Without any set restrictions or security policies on the usage of mobile devices (personal or company-owned) by the employees, the probability of downloading malicious apps by the end users will only increase, increasing the chances of security loopholes. When employees feel free to download unlimited gaming apps, video apps, social media apps, which are not relevant for the business purpose, they are always keeping a door open for malicious apps to hinder enterprise security. These apps also pose a high risk of data theft and loss and even can harm the OS of the mobile devices.
Mobility is a growing business need, and no company can afford to compromise the safety and security of their sensitive and critical business data. Enterprise mobility risks and threats are one of the highest concerns for organizations seeking successful outputs from managed mobility. Nevertheless, they require to implement a powerful and robust Mobile Device Management Solution to manage and secure all their endpoints across the whole network.
MDM can go a long way to mitigate the risks associated with enterprise mobility while securing the devices, data, network and enterprise apps from falling into the wrong hands. And most importantly, a scalable MDM solution does so without compromising the user experience, device performance and work flexibility. In fact, the overall organizational benefits drive holistic business values for all the stakeholders involved.
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