7 reasons every business needs mobile device security training

With cyber incidents ranked as the top global risk, it’s clear that cybersecurity is more than just an IT issue. As our reliance on mobile devices becomes greater, so does the need for robust mobile device security training.?

Not convinced? Here’s why you need to dial up your mobile device security awareness.

1. The growing reliance on mobile devices for work

Once considered an office taboo, 60% of organisations now expect their employees to use mobile devices to carry out work tasks.?

While the use of mobile devices for work improves productivity, it can be a risky business. Mobile devices are generally difficult to secure, and it’s equally challenging to control what employees do with them once they leave the office. They could connect to unsecured Wi-Fi on public transport, set simple passwords, or lose their devices.?

With mobile device security training, you can help employees understand the risks of using mobile devices for work and the best practices to follow.

Want to know more about the mobile-specific threats faced by small businesses like yours? Check out our latest research report.

2. The increase in mobile threats

Mobile devices are the fastest-growing point of entry for cyberattacks, according to Verizon.?

Why do they make such good targets? For one, they have fewer security measures in place. But mainly, it’s because of our behaviour. We tend to use mobile devices on the go, which means we’re distracted and in a hurry, causing us to overlook the telltale signs of cybercrime.?

Increasing mobile device security awareness highlights the social engineering tactics cybercriminals use to trick us, minimising complacency.

3. The proliferation of AI

AI has made its mark on every industry – and cybersecurity is no exception. Cybercriminals use generative AI to increase the scale and sophistication of their attacks.?

AI-enabled cyber threats include:?

• Convincing, personalised phishing messages?
• Sophisticated mobile malware, able to avoid detection?
• Realistic deepfakes?

While AI can enhance cyber-attacks, it can also help detect and avoid them. Many businesses are investigating ways to integrate AI into their cybersecurity strategies. However, generative AI relies heavily on data inputs, so it’s essential to understand how to handle data responsibly to avoid privacy breaches.

4. The truth about human error

To err is human – and the data proves it. Human error is responsible for 85% of cyber breaches. Whether that’s because of hitting send on an email addressed to the wrong recipient, accidentally forwarding confidential information, or clicking on phishing links.?

Human error falls into two categories– skills-based error and decision-based error.?

Skills-based errors result from a lack of technical knowledge. For example, not enabling multi-factor authentication because you don’t know how.?

Decision-based errors occur when an individual makes a poor choice due to bad judgment or insufficient knowledge. For instance, choosing to postpone an update, believing it’s unnecessary to install it immediately.

Providing cybersecurity training and building a positive culture increases mobile device security awareness and reduces human error.?

5. The cost of breaches

Mobile device security training plays a key role in avoiding data breaches. According to the Allianz Risk Barometer, this is the most concerning type of cyberattack. We suspect that’s because of their severe financial ramifications.?

Over half of UK businesses have suffered a cyber-attack in the last five years, leading to a total revenue loss of ￡44 billion. In addition to the direct costs of a cyber-attack, the financial implications of downtime, legal fees, and lost revenue prove significant.?Perhaps more challenging to recover from than financial loss is reputational loss. Among businesses that have experienced a cyber-attack, 47% report greater difficulty in attracting new customers, while 43% say they’ve lost existing customers.

6. The power of quick response

According to gov.uk 36% of medium and large organisations don’t have an incident response plan. This is worrying, considering that quick, decisive action minimises dwell time.?

Dwell time is the amount of time a cybercriminal has free access to a system – from suspected entry to detection. The longer you take to respond, the more opportunity there is to steal sensitive information, escalate privileges, and spread malware.?

Mobile device security training helps employees understand how to respond to breaches and gives them the confidence to flag anomalies. This reduces dwell time and lessens the impact of the attack.

7. The importance of staying compliant

Cybersecurity compliance is the measure of your regulations and standards that protect sensitive data and digital assets. These vary by industry, location, and organisation size. GDPR, HIPAA, and CPPA are some widely recognised regulations.?

Failure to meet relevant regulations can result in legal action, fines, and suspension of operations. For example, GDPR infringements could result in a?fine of up to €20 million or 4% of your global annual revenue, whichever is higher.?

Not to mention that HIPAA and SOC 2 require companies to provide security awareness training to be compliant.

Don’t leave your colleagues to their own devices

One of the most valuable outcomes of mobile device security training is building a culture of cyber awareness. When employees understand risks and best practices, they become more security-conscious, and a security-conscious workforce is far less likely to fall victim to cyber-attacks.

Did you know 59% of SMEs provide no mobile cybersecurity training to staff? Find out why this is a problem and what to do about it in our?SME Mobile Threat Report.