The IT Experts

What Has Been Discovered About Mobile Security

After having nagged Apple for years to share access to their OS, law enforcement finally figured it out in 2020, and in 2021, a position paper entitled Data Security on Mobile Devices: Current State of the Art, Open Problems, and Proposed Solutions explored three questions:

1. What security measures are currently in place to help deter unauthorized access to user data?
2. How do modern devices allow unauthorized access? 
3. How can mobile security be improved to prevent unauthorized access?

Researchers dug into both of today’s major platforms—Android and iOS alike—and discovered that neither of the two offered a superior security foundation when compared to the other.

While the researchers did “find a powerful and compelling set of security and privacy controls, backed and empowered by strong encryption” in the iOS platform, these tools simply weren’t being used with enough consistency to really deliver the security benefits they should have been. Android’s issues were derived from the fact that so many manufacturers have the capability to build devices that run Android and—since many of these devices would only communicate with Google HQ so often—updates were often slow to be implemented and some controls could be inconsistent.

Of course, the report included a few specific examples of the issues that were discovered:

Apple’s Security Issues

There is an argument to be made that an Apple user’s ability to securely store their data in iCloud is one of the best features of the platform. However, the researchers also uncovered that this data isn’t all that is taken in by Apple. Activating iCloud also sends a litany of other data to Apple… where other entities (like hackers and now law enforcement) can now access it.

With Apple’s security defenses less effective than they were once believed, this problem is made to be even bigger. Apparently, the researchers also have reason to believe that a tool like theirs has existed since 2018 that could allow attackers to guess user passcodes.

Android’s Security Issues

As for Android, its shortcomings were largely in its local data protection. Android has no solution that could be analogous to Apple’s Complete Protection encryption, leaving it more vulnerable as a result.

What Does This All Mean?

In so many words: neither is the perfect defense that either platform wants you to think it has.

You really shouldn’t ever assume that your data is safe to begin with. The onus falls to you and your organization to manage your data’s security. Fortunately, there are solutions available today to help, like mobile device management platforms and Bring Your Own Device policies that help ensure that your organization isn’t inviting in additional threats.

KB Technologies Managed IT can help you put these tools and more in place. Give our team of experts a call at (954) 834-2800 to get started.

Fortunately, Gmail has a feature that allows you to address these fears by scheduling a time for these emails to be deleted automatically, while also barring them from being shared.

Confidential Mode in Gmail

Gmail’s Confidential Mode basically gives the user the capability to set an expiration date for the emails they send. Plus, you can even lock your message behind a passcode that can be shared via text to the intended recipient.

Using Confidential Mode

With the Compose window pulled up, look next to the Send button for a little icon that looks like a padlock and clock. This is the button that toggles confidential mode. Clicking it will pull up a window in Confidential mode.

This window will let you set your message’s expiration date, ranging from one day to five years, and the aforementioned passcode. Setting the passcode will prompt you to provide your own phone number and the one you want your code shared to.

If you’re using your mobile device, you can compose a confidential email by opening the three-dot menu and selecting Confidential mode, setting your preferences accordingly.

While this all can help boost your email’s security, it won’t necessarily guarantee it, of course.

If you want to find out more tips and tricks to make the most of the IT your business relies on, reach out to KB Technologies Managed IT at (954) 834-2800.

Point-of-Sale (POS)

While seemingly a very front-facing system, the POS can help fulfill a key back-end role for many businesses operating in retail and service while helping to keep the entire organization coordinated. For the benefit of inventory and retail management, a modern POS system can now alert your team when your business runs low on certain items. With this information, your team can act in such a way that keeps your customers satisfied.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

RFID systems assist you and your team members in tracking your resources by using small, inexpensive microchips. The sensors on these microchips are picked up by RFID readers, allowing you to follow your supplies around your business. With a complete record of the movement these resources follow and when they are in use, your business is in better shape to succeed.

Inventory Management Software

In terms of properly managing your business’ inventory, a dedicated inventory management system (IMS) is the creme de la crème that is available to you. Using many of today’s leading business innovations, this end-to-end solution can help you accomplish efficiency that otherwise couldn’t be.

Cloud-based IMS also makes a lot of tools available to businesses, with the benefit of constant upgrades as the integrated solutions are improved. These platforms can also be customized, enabling your business access to precisely what is needed. A modern IMS provides a variety of essential benefits and features, like:

• Traceability—Today’s expectations demand that orders are received quickly and in good condition, and today’s tools enable these expectations to be accounted for.
• Automation—Modern IMS solutions can be used more efficiently thanks to the involvement of automated solutions like AI and machine learning. With sufficient repetitions and the right reporting, we’ve reached the point where automation can be automated.
• Scalability—Certain businesses need different tools, in different amounts. Smarter businesses use their tools to waste fewer resources.

We get how critical proper inventory management can be. Let us help.

At KB Technologies Managed IT, we respect how much of an impact your inventory can have on your business’ success. Reach out to find out what our team can do to support you with the IT solutions you need to ensure that success. Give us a call at (954) 834-2800 today.