Top 6 Threats to Safety & Security of Mobilized WorkersAre you sure that your mobile workforce is safe and secure? How well are your mobilized workers prepared to deal with the potential of threats against their mobile gear and the data they contain? Knowing what potential threats are possible and taking the correct security measures before a mobile worker leaves the office will help ensure that your company data and network remain safe from harm and financial loss. Prevention is key to ensuring the safety of mobile gear and company systems. Theft is the first and most obvious security concern for any mobile professional. Companies must ensure that their mobile workforce have available and use security devices and know how to take care of their mobile gear to prevent theft. All mobile professionals have to be made aware of the target their mobile gadgets are and what to do to prevent theft. At any given time unauthorized persons may be attempting to access a corporate network or company files on a mobile device. Unauthorized access can be gained by a malicious party who pretends to be someone else and then uses that initial access to go further into a system. People who do this are referred to as "spoofers". Mobile professionals must take extreme care with passwords and other authentication methods to prevent a third party from using that information to gain unauthorized access. 3. Electronic EavesdroppingElectronic eavesdropping or "sniffing" is another method employed by persons who wish to access networks or files through a mobile device. Encryption is not a maybe for companies to consider with their mobile workforce but a definite part of ensuring network safety and security. With the increased use of wireless networks, especially hot spots, mobile professionals must be taught to use encryption and use it all the time.4. Modification of DataData which has been maliciously modified or tampered with can be used to obtain access to confidential information. It can be difficult to determine how or when a document has been modified and the methods for preventing this type of occurrence are: Encryption, Authorization and Authentication. Programs must be set up which do not allow anonymous users to make changes or have access to sensitive data. Hackers may use a combination of the above methods or completely new ways to gain access to a system or data and then create problems or plant virus' or Trojans. One hacker can cause serious damage and cost a company large amounts of money in order to repair the damage caused. Implementing and using security measures before you mobilize your workforce will help prevent hackers from gaining access. 6. Virus' & TrojansEmail is a fact of life for everyone, especially mobile professionals. Make sure all mobile workers have anti-virus software and keep it updated. One infected mobile device can take down a department or infect an entire network. Just because you have the right prevention solutions in place onsite, doesn't mean that a mobile device won't cause problems when brought back into the office. Identify and make clear to mobile workers the many ways that a virus or Trojan can infect their mobile device.
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