Many companies’ security strategies have one dangerous flaw: while they invest in basic security mechanisms for servers and laptops, mobile devices are often completely overlooked in the security concept. That’s why smartphones and tablets are attractive targets for cyber criminals – and can put the entire IT infrastructure at risk.
Invisible gateway for cyber attacks
The misconception that smartphones are more secure than notebooks arose because mobile operating systems used to have closed ecosystems. However, these ecosystems are now more open and cyber criminals have long since found ways to circumvent security mechanisms such as sandboxing, app-store controls, authorisation systems, security updates or data encryption. Phishing attacks via email, SMS or messaging apps are among the biggest threats. So-called zero-click attacks are even more dangerous: this involves a user merely receiving a manipulated message – without having actively to click on a link to infect their device.
What’s more, many mobile devices are regularly connected to public Wi-Fi networks that are easy for cyber criminals to manipulate. An unencrypted connection may be enough for them to intercept sensitive company data.
Traditional security solutions such as VPNs no longer provide sufficient protection for mobile devices, as they aren’t effective against malicious apps or phishing attacks. This is why there needs to be a more holistic approach to IT security. Mobile end devices are no longer a marginal phenomenon – they’re essential work tools that need the same level of protection as notebooks and servers.
Smart security for mobile devices
To protect businesses from the risks associated with smartphones and tablets, they need a solution designed specifically for mobile threats. Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security from Sunrise Business is exactly that – multi-layered protection that adapts flexibly to a company’s security requirements and size.
Lookout protects mobile devices from threats like malware and phishing by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for real-time detection. As a cloud-based solution, it offers fast, scalable threat analysis. Systematic behavioural analyses are used to identify anomalies and neutralise threats. Users are notified of the threat in real time via an alert or a dashboard. In addition, Lookout offers integrated VPN protection, Secure DNS and other security features to ensure mobile devices are protected comprehensively. Any threats detected are stopped automatically, for example, by blocking harmful apps or unsafe connections.
Protecting employees' private smartphones
Another important topic in mobile security is the concept of «bring your own device» (BYOD). Many companies allow their employees to use private smartphones for business purposes – often for practical or financial reasons. However, this practice brings with it enormous security risks, as there may be unsecure apps installed on these private devices or they might not have the latest security updates.
Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security is the perfect solution for this, too. It helps mitigate BYOD risks by detecting suspicious activity such as unauthorised access and malware, and by protecting company data by isolating and encrypting it. It analyses threats at the device level and protects business applications with policy-based access controls. Meanwhile, in order to protect employee privacy, private data such as images, texts, audio and video files or personal information are not stored. As a result, Lookout differentiates between business and private accounts, and private data is not covered by Lookout. Private customers can sign up for the Sunrise Protect option if they want additional protection for their private data.
Whatever the structure of a company’s mobile policy, one thing is clear: anyone who neglects mobile security exposes their company to unnecessary risks. The latest security solutions such as Lookout Mobile Endpoint Security, which have been developed specifically for mobile devices, are indispensable today.