Mobile Employees Can Be Easy Targets for Cyber Criminals

Traditionally, when web protection was assessed and implemented, the focus was on protecting the network from within the walls of the company. Research shows that companies are shifting and going more mobile. According to a 2006 study conducted by IDC, 70% of the workforce would be mobile by 2009. This estimate has been extended to 2011 where nearly 1 billion members of the worldwide workforce will be mobile. With the rapidly growing need to access sensitive information remotely, new challenges have arisen in web security. Web-based threats are skyrocketing and it has been estimated that up to 85% of malware is now distributed through the web.

One thing that cannot be ignored is all the press surrounding the loss of sensitive information. The publicity is bad for business and could ultimately cost your company millions. Information loss is just the start of the problem. Legal fees, security reconfiguration, and of course efforts to repair their broken image can be costly. It makes a lot more sense to spend the time and money now and avoid the headache later.

Mobile security can be very difficult to implement and is often overlooked. When working with a mobile workforce, an IT department must consider inappropriate internet use, malware threats, and data loss. While secure Gateways and VPN connections have been the preferred method in establishing mobile security, these strategy may not fully protect your organization against today's web-based threats. One of the best things your organization can do to defend itself from cyber threats is to implement a web specific security service. Currently, SaaS (Software as a Service) solutions have proven to be the most cost effective and secure web security options available.

Benefits of utilizing a SaaS solution to protect your network from web threats include:

• Software does not need to be installed on individual computers
• Security can be enforced wherever employees are connected
• Administrators can monitor and alter security policies from the web
• Authentication occurs directly on the web rather than over a VPN connection allowing for greater security with less hassle

There are a lot of different choices available and it is vital that you choose a company that is reputable, time-tested, and trusted in the security software and solutions industry. Don't be the next headline and invest in the best web security solution available

Jon Harwokey, a software developer, understands the importance of protecting networks against malware threats, managing acceptable use policies, and ensuring industry and regulatory compliance. Delivered as a service, the Webroot Web Security and Email Security reduce total cost of ownership, keep threats from ever reaching the corporate network, and require no additional hardware or software investment.