Security News > 2021 > April > Mobile devices proved vulnerable during pandemic lockdowns
According to the Verizon Business Mobile Security Index 2021, the massive shift to remote work caused by the COVID-19 pandemic left many businesses knowingly vulnerable to attacks from employees' mobile devices.
Of the more than 850 businesses surveyed for the report, 40% said mobile devices are their company's biggest IT security threat, yet 45% still sacrificed the security of mobile devices to enhance useability, meeting business needs or meeting project deadlines or productivity targets.
Nearly one-in-four said mobile device security was sacrificed in response to restrictions put in place by the pandemic.
"With the rise of the remote workforce and the spike in mobile device usage, the threat landscape changed, which for organizations, means there is a greater need to hone in on mobile security to protect themselves and those they serve."
On a 10-point scale of importance to their businesses, most respondents ranked mobile devices an eight or higher.
The Verizon Mobile Security Index 2021 findings are based on an independent survey of 856 businesses across Australia, the U.S. and the U.K. Surveyed professionals are responsible for the buying, managing and security of mobile and Internet of Things devices for their companies.