Smartphone safety explained

Businesses of all sizes need to communicate efficiently and effectively, and that inevitably means issuing some or all of their staff with mobile phones.

While that might ensure that they’re easier to reach and able to contact customers and suppliers while on the move, it can lay the company open to increased risks of security breaches. And as smartphones have become ever more sophisticated – to the point that they are in essence a computer in our pocket – they’ve been attracting hackers and criminals as the most direct and potentially simplest route to access data and information.

The truth is that we’re probably all aware of the threats that are out there, but we tend to be rather relaxed about the security of our own phone. PINs, Face ID and two-factor authentication would appear to have us covered, and it’s actually relatively rare for viruses to spread from a phone to a laptop or desktop computer. But a compromised phone can still pose a threat if it’s connected to the company’s internal network or if an employee’s credentials, confidential corporate data or banking information is stolen.

In addition, every phone has multiple components – including a camera, GPS tracker and microphone – alongside a variety of apps. Any or all of these can be targeted by attackers to steal sensitive information from employees and to serve as an initial attack for cybercriminals to inflict harm on a company. Mobile device management can help to mitigate the risks, in the sense that employees can be restricted in the apps and software to which they have access. And there’s always the simpler tactic of only giving company mobiles to certain team members.

However, as TBM’s Senior IT Engineer, David Cobbold, observes, while this may sound like a simple solution, enforcement within even a small team can be a challenge. ‘Here at TBM, we recommend creating a bespoke security plan for your company mobiles, and that can dovetail with other cybersecurity solutions,’ he comments. ‘It’s a growing concern that companies’ finances and data can be compromised through mobiles, whether via trojans, phishing, vulnerabilities or even just physical theft. Business leaders can often be so focused on protecting their networks, PCs and laptops that they take their eye off the mobiles.

‘Of course, no-one is immune from basic human error, with around three quarters of data breaches being traceable to this route, largely due to poor password protocols or misusing personal emails. And finally, there may even be weaknesses or a lack of experience in the internal IT team, so it can make sense to engage with external specialists such as ourselves to design and implement a robust security strategy.’

At TBM we offer IT support in Newmarket, Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds. To request a no-obligation quotation, please call us on 01638 665240, send us an email or complete our enquiry form.