Keeping a clear head with mobile device security

Enterprises may understandably be reluctant to adopt BYOD even today due to security concerns. Relying on employee devices can seem dangerous given the mix of personal and professional apps on them.

It's best not to go too far in the paranoid direction, though, since underestimating the existing security on commonly used mobile devices could also be problematic, as a recent TechRepublic piece pointed out.

The source said that the idea of mobile devices being inherently less safer than desktop computers is a myth. They simply bring a different set of factors with them, which may be challenging for the unprepared but not necessarily more of a risk. The way businesses go about their legacy modernization efforts, consequently, can also be non-intrusive and easy for all users and applications.

Mobile security has long been an issue for BYOD transition, and a possible roadblock for some. Unsurprisingly, the concern continues, and ZDNet recently cited a Ponemon Institute report on the state of security in 2016.

"A large part of the difficulties surrounding mobile security management could stem from the people using them."

According to this source, a large part of the difficulties surrounding mobile security management could stem from employee errors.

 Out of 18,590 endpoint IT security and general IT professionals, 86 percent believed that "mobile devices such as smartphones" represented the greatest rise in possible IT security problems.

However, the most common answer for what the single biggest endpoint security threat to an organization was "negligent or careless employees who do not follow security policies."

Lightweight IT modernization tools may lead to a better sense of control. With Inventu Flynet Viewer, businesses have a browser-based way to access their mainframe functions and coordinate with mobile devices, including those used by employees. Making security a priority may be easier when the devices are all equally able to give users crucial apps.