Essentials explained
Mobile security: how to protect your business’s smartphones and tablets
Smartphones and tablets are now essential tools for modern businesses, but they also pose serious security risks.
This guide will help you understand the key threats and provide practical steps to secure your business’s mobile technology.
October 08, 2025
5 minutes
Using mobile devices for work is great for convenience, but it can represent a significant security risk if they’re not managed correctly. Make sure everyone knows how to use devices in the safest ways.
The most effective ways to keep mobile devices secure include being able to remotely track and wipe a device if it’s lost or stolen, banning the use of public Wi-Fi for accessing company systems, and installing anti-virus software on all devices.
It’s important to have a clear mobile security policy, and to offer regular security awareness training. Whatever device they’re working on, your employees need to remain aware of cyber threats.
Few of us could imagine life without a mobile phone: they’ve become essential. The same is true for businesses, as not many could function effectively without mobile devices.
However, they also present significant security challenges and they’re often the least protected of all devices, so could be an easy target for cyber criminals.
Many small businesses rely on employees using their own devices for work. According to a recent survey by cyber security firm CyberSmart, 60% of small companies expect staff to use personal devices at work, but 59% offer no mobile-security training.
To remain protected, it’s vital to make sure your employees are using mobile devices in the safest ways. The following guidance will help reduce the risks for your business.
The weakest link is often the person holding the device. Invest time and effort in training and adopt a mindset of pause, think, protect.
It’s not just about phones
As well as keeping your business-owned devices secure (more on that below), it’s important that anyone accessing your systems outside of the workplace does so in a secure way. That might include email, cloud software (such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace) or documents stored on a shared server.
Unfortunately, it’s common for people to unknowingly engage in risky behaviour while working remotely. According to CyberSmart’s survey:
- 36% have worked from a public Wi-Fi network on a mobile device.
- 25% have connected a mobile device used for work to a public charging station (for example, at an airport or café).
- 12% have accessed a corporate bank account from a mobile device in public.
7 important mobile security tips
Here are some simple steps you can take to help reduce the risk of cyber attacks on mobile devices:
1. Make sure all company mobile devices can be remotely tracked, which is useful if they are lost or stolen. It also helps if they can be accessed and wiped remotely, to prevent important data falling into the wrong hands.
2. Always turn on biometric authentication where possible. This is where you log in using a fingerprint or facial recognition.
3. Also, where possible, log in using multi-factor authentication (MFA). This is where you’re sent a code, usually by text or email, once you’ve entered your username and password.
4. Make sure your team knows not to access work systems over public Wi-Fi, as it’s very easy for criminals to hack in and see what you’re doing. If they really have to, make sure they’re using a virtual private network (VPN), which encrypts an internet connection and hides online identities, making it harder for criminals to track activity or steal data.
5. Ensure anti-virus software is installed on all your mobile devices. Many companies overlook phones and tablets for this, but they are every bit as vulnerable to attack as desktop computers. Make sure all the software and operating systems on these devices are kept up to date.
6. Make employees aware that they should only download mobile apps from official sites, such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The apps available on these have been verified as secure.
7. Make sure all your employees who use their own mobile devices for work purposes follow the rules above.
Policies and training are vital
Mobile security isn’t just a technical issue. It’s essential to have a strong mobile security policy in place to ensure your employees are aware of their responsibilities when they’re working remotely.
Keep it simple and make sure you complement it with regular security awareness training.
Above all, it’s vital for the entire business to be constantly vigilant, whatever device they’re working on, as cyber criminals frequently rely on human lapses to force their way into company systems.
Key takeaways
If you only remember three things, make them these:
- Have a simple and strong mobile-security policy. Ensure your team are aware of it and undergo regular security awareness training and reminders.
- Make sure mobile devices can be tracked and wiped remotely, have biometric authentication activated and anti-virus software installed.
- Employees using their own mobile devices for work should follow the same rules as if they were using a work device.
