INSIGHT
Empowering Businesses in a ‘Mobile First’ Economy
Effortless Mobility, Complete Security
In three years time, the smartphones in our pockets will collectively be storing 4.5 times more data than traditional data centres1. It will be instantly accessible, highly collaborative and above all, absolutely vital to the employees and businesses it belongs to. Even now, the impact of mobile-working can be felt throughout the UK, as a new generation ditch the commute and the 9 to 5 grind in favour of a more flexible, efficient and holistic approach. Thanks to the incredible development of mobile technology, you can connect with colleagues and collaborate on vital projects in the time it takes you to pick up your smartphone or open your laptop. You define your workspace, your hours and your best way of working.
Investing in the technology that empowers a truly mobile workforce is a step that could give many businesses a vital edge in a fiercely competitive digital world. However, as the expectations on seamless mobile-working increase, so too does the need to ensure that employees can always work securely and businesses’ critical data is comprehensively protected.
In essence, this means that wherever and whenever sensitive business data is accessed, be it at home on a laptop, or via smartphone on the way to a meeting, it’s protected as securely as it would be as if it was in the office. It’s surprising then that the 2018 Verizon Mobile Security Index noted that almost a third (32%) of organisations “admitted to having sacrificed mobile security to improve expediency and/or business performance”2.
Why is this surprising? Quite simply, because there is absolutely no need for a business to sacrifice security in favour of embracing enhanced mobility. Security solutions can be tailored to fit the needs of any business, whether they’re a tiny startup in a home office, or an established business with employees working remotely all over the country. A solution like remote VPN access provides a secure, private connection between two devices, no matter where they are. It means the security of the office network can be extended to incorporate the devices of employees working remotely, ensuring any critical data they send or receive remains completely safe. New mobile technology doesn’t only secure the connection however. Biometric innovations like fingerprint, voice and face recognition protect key pieces of hardware from unfriendly intruders and the ability to lock devices remotely means a lost phone doesn’t have to mean a critical data breach.
In practice, truly flexible mobile security looks something like this. You’re in the office, and you need immediate sign off on a crucial budget from your CFO, but they’re on the train on the way to a meeting. With a solution that seamlessly incorporates mobility and security, you can send the relevant information directly to their smartphone, knowing that they’ll be able to action it immediately and any sensitive data will be as secure as if you’d placed it directly on their desk. In short, “security must never jeopardise the user experience”3, but instead establish safeguards that are agile enough to work impeccably around the demands of an increasingly flexible, mobile orientated workforce.
The explosive growth of mobile technology has transformed the way businesses approach the whole concept of working. Offices are optional, digital is essential, and it’s estimated that 75% of millennials now want to work flexibly4. But with these innovations comes the need to ensure that strong, reliable security remains at the heart of the way businesses treat their data. That’s why we are committed to developing SMART solutions, which effortlessly incorporate security developed by our established partner ecosystem. We aim to empower your business and unlock mobile productivity without ever compromising on data security, allowing you to fully embrace the benefits of a flexible, secure, digitally mature workforce.
Source:
1 Cisco Global Cloud Index - Forecast and Methodology, 2016–2021
2 P4. The Mobile Security Index - Verizon (2018)
3 10 Requirements for Securing Endpoints - https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/10 requirements-for-securing-endpoint
4 The 2016 Deloitte Millennial Survey - Samsung research (2016)
Work, but not as you know it
Connectivity solutions for your colleagues and customers, at home, in the office or on the go.
Share this article:
Download our top guides and reports
Latest insights
