Is a hacker tracking you? 3 must-know steps for mobile security

Is a hacker tracking you? 3 must-know steps for mobile security

We’ve entered a golden era of flexible working habits, as high-speed internet means we can connect and collaborate from anywhere. Unfortunately, that freedom to work outside the confines of offices also means working outside companies’ security protections. This is especially true for mobile devices and inboxes – these are among the most vulnerable entry points for cyberattacks but their cybersecurity is largely ignored.

Companies, no matter their size, need to step up mobile device and email security. Here are three major challenges that SMBs may have and how to overcome them.

1. Stop letting mobiles be easy targets

Whether users are doing remote work, online banking, online shopping, or even booking a vaccination appointment (which is currently a hot favorite among phishing attackers), they’re at risk of visiting a hacked or spoofed website. Indeed, this may be the most obvious danger as workers outside the office increasingly turn to unprotected mobile devices, few of which have mobile security or even basic antiviruses. It’s a cinch for hackers to steal sensitive company data.

The easiest way around this is to avoid using unencrypted public WiFi and visiting malicious websites. But that’s easier said than done. When it comes to mobile device security, pick a solution that makes life simple. Cloud-based ones work better as they can keep up to date on emerging threats in real time and quickly fend off advanced and zero-day attacks, even if they’ve bypassed other firewalls and protections.

2. Give inboxes the security they deserve

Email servers were among the top three assets targeted in security breaches in 2020*. Guarding against inbox-bound spam, malware, and phishing attacks is clearly critical but can be tricky because many solutions require complex, time-consuming changes to network infrastructure and may not protect WFH staff. And, with remote staff using cloud-based services like Office 365 and Gmail, it’s essential to make sure you have a complete mail protection plan.

Traditional firewalls can protect your inboxes with measures like black lists and filters, but such measures are piecemeal at best. If you want to upgrade, we suggest a cloud-based email security service; these are futureproof and require no hardware to install, so you can get yours up and running without interrupting your email service or customer service. These protect both on-premise and cloud-based email servers.

3. Simplify IT management without sacrificing productivity

In most SMBs, tech staff are responsible for both general IT and security tasks. Their already heavy workloads leave little time to hunt down threats requiring immediate action. The most basic checklist for an efficient security solution should comprise easy deployment, less maintenance, and high visibility.

A high-visibility dashboard and report interface showing all employees’ devices can save you time identifying threats and help you avoid overlooking serious incidents. Of course, installing and maintaining employees’ devices or constantly monitoring device activities shouldn’t force you to sacrifice other important IT tasks. Find a solution that supports streamlined deployment for all devices (like through QR code scanning) or simplified incident detection and response.

Your security products should be working for you, not the other way around. In stark contrast to legacy antivirus solutions, which need to be run periodically, slowing down users’ devices and hindering business operations, cloud-based security like Zyxel’s Astra and Cloud Email Security services provide interruption-free protection for win-win-win outcomes for workers, IT staff, and customers alike.

* Source: 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report. https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/