You may know to lock down your personal computer from any threats, but the company devices you use need the same level of security. They're just as vulnerable as a PC — likely more so, since people can spend more time on their mobile devices than desktop computers.

You should know how to keep your business’s mobile devices safe, especially if your employees store sensitive information on their phones and tablets.

How Vulnerable Are Mobile Devices?

Mobile devices can be just as vulnerable as PCs — if not more. Since people are spending more time on them, more websites are pushing to be mobile-friendly and viruses are following suit. In 2019, there was a 50% increase in cyberattacks on mobile devices since the previous year. If your company does much work from mobile devices, securing them and their private information is more crucial than ever.

Smartphones may soon overtake computers as the most populous device. This means more hackers will target smartphones and other smart devices with viruses, so they'll search for a way to get past any protection the device automatically offers. As smartphones become more complex, so will the malware targeting them.

Best Ways to Protect Your Company’s Mobile Devices

You want to ensure you have the best safety for your business’s technology. However, much of the protection you provide comes from the choices you make.

By adjusting a few settings on the phones you hand out to your staff, you can secure your company’s internet-based accounts more than you think. Try out these methods to protect your mobile devices and their files from corruption.

1. Set New Passwords and Enable Two-factor Authentication

Online accounts should have strong passwords protecting them from prying eyes. You can create policies to help your employees protect their accounts, such as ensuring they write down their strong passwords. Also, consider having them change their passwords every three months to stay safe. While it may seem like a lot, it ensures hackers who access business accounts won't be there for very long.

Additionally, you can enable two-factor authentication on all devices and accounts so an alert goes to a worker’s phone or email when someone tries to access their credentials. This way, they can use the code sent to them to log into their account or change their password after an intruder has accessed or compromised it.

2. Download Antivirus Software

Antivirus software exists for more than computers. Installing this protection onto your company’s fleet of mobile devices can protect it from most things your employees may encounter online or in their email inboxes.

An antivirus app on each of your business’s phones should give your devices an extra layer of protection they didn't have previously and may even speed up your device to faster than it was when it was brand-new. Antivirus software is a great measure to protect your devices on a fundamental level.

3. Use Discretion

The last way to safeguard your company’s mobile devices is by educating your staff on what to watch out for. You must pay attention to which apps you allow and teach them how to download directly from the app store on their device. Outside sources can often be untrustworthy.

In each device’s settings, ensure that permissions are only given to the apps needing them. You don't want to give an app the go-ahead to access something vital if you don't think it’s necessary. Knowing what to look out for means your workers likely won't fall victim to malware due to a lapse in judgment.

You may also analyze how employees use their company phones. If you think they might put their devices at risk during their activities, use your discretion to determine when you need to routinely back up the information stored on them. You can use a private cloud-based system only accessible by your workers to back up your sensitive information.

Stay Safe Online and Offline

Your business’s mobile devices are just as vulnerable to malware as other phones. Hackers can compromise most any technology, so you must know how to protect it. Teach your employees how to make the right decisions with their data, as avoiding common mistakes is often the best way to prevent you from losing sensitive data.

Help them learn to safeguard their personal and professional accounts. After defending everything on their devices and accounts, you’ll find it difficult for anyone to compromise your company.