Mobile Security for Small Businesses: Managing Risks in a Mobile-First World

Few things like mobile smartphones and tablets have revolutionized how your small business operates. 

Of course, increased convenience and productivity come at a price. There's a caveat to enjoying robust mobile security for small businesses: managing risks in a mobile-first world needs to be all-encompassing. Learn how you can protect yourself and your operation below.

Risk Management in Mobile-First Environments

SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) felt immune from cyberattacks for a long time. Many business owners believed they didn't have anything of high enough value to attract attention from malicious actors. However, increasing attacks and security breaches on smaller enterprises show this isn't the case. 

Unfortunately, it's common for SMEs to drop the ball regarding mobile security. For instance, the Verizon Mobile Security Index revealed that about a quarter of small businesses experienced a mobile-related security compromise last year. That's huge when you consider that the effects of these breaches can devastate micro-enterprises. 

Could you make your small business mobile security a bigger priority? Mobile malware and attacks on smartphones and other devices are the fastest-growing types of cybercrime. Strategies for managing mobile risks in SMEs must move beyond securing individual devices to a more comprehensive approach to mitigating threats.

The experts say that protecting small businesses in a mobile world starts by addressing common issues, such as:

• Curbing visibility into the devices in the network
• Managing the number of devices that are connected to your business's network
• Perceptions that Apple iOS systems are impervious to malware and zero-day attacks
• Limited awareness of the potential threats to applications or email

Securing Mobile Devices for Small Businesses

There's another thing to know about mobile security for small businesses: managing risks in a mobile-first world requires a multi-pronged cybersecurity strategy. You can't rely on traditional mobile device management protocols and tools that only oversee devices. They aren't more effective in securing small businesses' mobile devices than modern threat defense tools.

Effective mobile security solutions for SMEs work best when they address hidden threats, including the following:

Software and Operating System Vulnerabilities

Criminals leverage gaps to launch attacks, even in iOS. Has your business implemented a vulnerability management system? Is there a strict auto-update policy for protection against these threats?

Mobile Devices As a Backdoor to Larger Attacks

Your employees' mobile devices may allow cybercriminals to access larger targets via phishing, malware, or other cyberattacks. They infiltrate the device to access information, seeking entry to your corporate network.

Application-Related Threats

Malware threats have always been an issue with mobile applications, even seemingly legitimate applications downloaded from reliable platforms. Your business's threat mitigation efforts must focus on identifying and containing app-related malware.

More Strategies to Improve SME Mobile Security For Your Business

Recognizing hidden threats to mobile devices starts with implementing mobile threat defense tools that do the following:

• Protect against malicious applications and phishing scams
• Stop cyberattacks on the network
• Prepare for zero-day attacks
• Address other vulnerabilities

Don't delay mobile security for small businesses: managing risks in a mobile-first world could protect your SME against devastating losses.