The benefits of enterprise mobility are well known – namely increased productivity and greater efficiency. But the risks of mobility have also gained attention lately.
Given the rise of devices, company data stored on smartphones and tablets are now at the center of attacks from cybercriminals. While data security measures are available to protect such devices, a recent Government Computer News report advised companies to also focus on employee training.
By educating employees on proper uses of mobile devices, as well as how to spot and avoid malicious applications, the chances of company data remaining safe are improved, according to the report.
For those worried about the cost of such training, data security expert Dave Marcus said “it will cost you less long-term if you have better trained users,” according to GCN.
Without training, companies will be forced to instead spend resources on responding to attacks. Between recovering data, notifying the victims and facing possible legal troubles and fines from industry groups, such costs can add up quickly.
Overall, Marcus said data security in general is shifting to focus more on the end-user. He added that fully securing the mobile workforce will require widespread "behavioral user training."
According to a new report on mobile security, one in 20 Android-based smartphones, as well as Apple's iPhones and iPads, could become infected with mobile malware aimed at stealing financial information during the next 12 to 24 months. Researchers said the trend will continue as more mobile users embrace mobile banking applications. So far, customer adoption of mobile banking is the one element that cybercriminals lack in launching full-scale attacks on mobile users.
That means that users of mobile devices of all kinds will have to be more vigilant to ensure they avoid malicious content so that their confidential data is protected.
