Many once believed that mobile devices were inherently more secure than desktop or laptop computers. With the rise in mobile attacks, that perception has changed. As mobile devices become deeply embedded in business operations across industries—from finance and healthcare to retail and manufacturing—they have also become prime targets for cybercriminals. The 2024 Verizon Mobile Security Index (MSI) reveals alarming trends and emerging threats that every CISO needs to understand to protect their organization effectively.
Key Stats: A snapshot of mobile security in 2024
- 89% of respondents believe organizations need to take mobile device security more seriously.
- 85% of respondents say risks from mobile device threats have increased in the past year.
- 64% believe they are at significant risk or extreme risk from mobile device threats.
- 51% have experienced app-related incidents from factors such as malware or unpatched vulnerabilities.
The expanding attack surface of mobile devices
The expanding role of mobile technology across industries
Mobile has transitioned beyond personal devices and BYOD policies to become a core component of business operations. Organizations are leveraging mobile capabilities to optimize processes, enhance real-time communication, and provide innovative services.
This evolution is transforming workflows and enabling new capabilities across various industries:
- Energy: Mobile technology is used to monitor grids and manage infrastructure in real-time.
- Healthcare: Professionals access patient data on-the-go, improving efficiency and flexibility in patient care.
- Retail: Mobile point-of-sale (POS) systems enhance customer service and streamline transactions.
- Finance: Teams develop and use banking apps to offer improved customer services and secure financial management.
As mobile device usage increases, so do the associated security risks. According to the Verizon MSI, 50% of individuals report that their mobile devices now have greater access to sensitive information than a year ago. This expansion in access means organizations face a significantly larger attack surface to manage, making mobile security more critical than ever.
Does BYOD increase risks?
The rise of remote work and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies has made mobile devices and their applications indispensable across nearly all sectors. 80% of respondents say these devices are crucial for the seamless operation of their organizations.
Securing employee-owned devices is often more challenging than securing corporate-owned devices, even with Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions designed to manage and enforce security policies. Despite these challenges, 59% of organizations allow employees to access work emails from their personal devices, significantly increasing the risk to corporate networks while balancing the demand for productivity.
These use cases highlight not only the essential role of mobile technology in modern business, but also its transformative impact on operational efficiency and customer engagement. However, increased dependency on mobile devices also underscores the need for comprehensive security measures tailored to the unique risk of each industry.
A false sense of security
Many organizations believe they have effective mobile security measures in place, but the reality often tells a different story. According to the Verizon MSI report, 67% of respondents consider their current mobile security measures to be very effective. However, despite this concern, 53% have encountered a mobile device security incident that led to data loss or downtime. This disconnect between perceived and actual security can create a false sense of security, leaving organizations vulnerable to emerging threats without knowing.
Additionally, 38% of respondents indicated these incidents had a significant financial or reputational impact on their organizations, highlighting the real-world consequences of overconfidence in mobile security.
The Verizon report also highlights a common challenge: security teams may not always have full visibility into their vulnerabilities. In fact, a significant portion (55%) of organizations lack formal disaster recovery plans and (41%) without organization-wide security policies, which are essential for identifying and mitigating risks. This lack of comprehensive planning and visibility leaves them more exposed, contributing to the false sense of security and increasing the likelihood of serious security incidents.
Mobile app security gaps
It’s no surprise that mobile apps are crucial to business operations across industries, from banking apps in finance to patient management systems in healthcare and apps used in critical infrastructure. However, many organizations overlook this critical layer of security. The report found 51% of respondents experienced mobile-app related incidents due to factors like malware or unpatched vulnerabilities.
Organizations can’t afford to ignore the security of their mobile apps, as these incidents can lead to severe consequences, including data breaches, operational disruptions, and regulatory penalties. Strengthening mobile app security is not only a technical requirement, but also a business imperative that protects brand reputation, ensures customer trust, and maintains operational continuity. Addressing these gaps can proactively help prevent costly security and privacy risks.
The challenge of shadow IT
Shadow IT, the use of unauthorized devices and apps within an organization, continues to pose significant security challenges across industries. 87% of respondents expressed concern over shadow IT, and with good reason: unmanaged devices can easily become entry points for cyberattacks, especially when employees use personal devices for work. This is a common issue in multiple sectors, where employees use personal devices to access corporate networks without proper security controls.
Increasing investments in mobile security
As mobile security threats continue to rise, industries are stepping up with greater investments in protective measures. The report reveals an 84% increase in mobile security spending over the past year, with 86% of organizations expecting to further boost their mobile security budgets in the coming year. While this suggests more organizations prioritize mobile security, there is a significant disconnect between perception and reality.
For instance, 67% of respondents believe their current mobile security measures are effective, but 51% have experienced app-related incidents due to factors like malware and risk management. This disparity indicates that despite increased spending, many organizations may be focusing more on device management, rather than on zero-day protection or comprehensive mobile app vetting.
To address these challenges, Forrester’s research emphasizes that mobile devices should be treated as full-fledged business endpoints. This means investing in mobile endpoint security solutions that not only protect the devices themselves, but also secure app components and actions to ensure they align with the organization’s security standards. Security experts recommend these solutions should actively detect suspicious activity and reduce risks, while integrating seamlessly into the business’s chosen security analytics platform to provide comprehensive visibility and control.
How Quokka can help
At Quokka, we understand that identifying and addressing mobile security gaps can be challenging. It’s not uncommon for security teams to be unaware of what they don’t know, and we’re here to help. Our research team has found that CVE discoveries often reveal patterns of overconfidence and lack of preparedness, particularly in industries heavily reliant on mobile devices.
To support organizations in closing these gaps, we offer solutions like Q-Scout and Q-Mast:
- Q-scout: Provides comprehensive mobile app vetting, identifying zero-day vulnerabilities and malicious app behaviors without disrupting the user experience.
- Q-mast: Offers advanced mobile app security testing, giving developers precise guidance on where to strengthen their code to meet security standards.
By leveraging Contextual Mobile Security Intelligence, these solutions can enhance your security strategy while keeping your organization running smoothly. Whether you develop apps in-house or rely on mobile devices for business operations, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Request a demo today to see how Quokka can help you secure your mobile environment effectively.
