Reducing Cyber Risks with Mobile Security

About the job

Mobile devices are now part of the standard setup for authorities. They offer many practical advantages but also increase the risk of cyber attacks. Comprehensive mobile security is therefore indispensable. The focus is not simply on additional technical layers of protection – but on smartphones developed according to the principle of "Security by Design".

The modern office is everywhere. We work at home, in coworking spaces, on the move, in cafés, hotel lobbies, or on park benches. Always with us: the smartphone. Mobile devices allow us to be location-independent while staying connected with everything and everyone. The advantages are numerous: employees are more flexible, efficient, and often more satisfied. But there are also disadvantages.

What used to happen at the desk within a clearly protected corporate environment now increasingly takes place over insecure public networks. As a result, mobile devices are increasingly targeted by phishing, malware, and network attacks. The Verizon Mobile Security Index 2025 shows: smartphones are particularly predestined as gateways for cyber attacks.

The reasons: mobile phones are constantly online, have numerous sensors and interfaces, and collect a wealth of sensitive information. Added to this is the human risk factor: if a person does not adhere to technical security guidelines or handles their device carelessly – for example, by discussing confidential matters in public – they make themselves and thus their entire organisation vulnerable.

600 mobile government devices attacked

Attacks via apps, emails, or compromised connections are not a hypothetical scenario but bitter reality. A significant proportion of companies surveyed for the Mobile Security Index report that security incidents related to smartphones have occurred. In spring 2025, for example, around 600 official phones and mobile devices of the Bodensee district office in Germany were the target of a hacker attack.

According to the authority, no sensitive data was accessed. Nevertheless, the example shows that compromises can have devastating consequences, especially in the public sector. This is not just about numbers or business processes but also about public trust. And four out of five surveyed organisations even say that cyber attacks could endanger human lives.

Reliable security requires "Security by Design"

The public sector bears a double responsibility: it must protect highly sensitive data in some cases and at the same time keep critical services available at all times. To achieve this balancing act, a whole range of security measures are already being invested in today – such as policies, audits, or training in dealing with AI. Regarding device protection, many organisations rely on downstream solutions such as apps or Mobile Device Management (MDM). These are important steps but – despite high investments – do not close all security gaps.

Because mobile security should not be considered an additional layer of protection but an integral part of the device itself. To ensure that audio, video, and data communication are truly secure, "Security by Design" is required. This means, among other things:

• Hardening of hardware and operating system
• Solid security architecture with quantum-secure encryption
• End-to-end secured communication connections between mobile devices and the internal network
• Restrictive handling of app installations
• Secure update mechanisms
• Control over sensors and access functions as well as remote wipe functionality

In all these areas, CyOne Security has profound expertise. The company develops verifiable and thus trustworthy security solutions that meet the highest requirements for confidentiality and integrity. This competence is complemented by many years of experience in cryptography, hardware, software, security engineering, and security systems engineering. This creates the foundation for mobile security at the highest level.

Because the crucial question is not whether mobile devices will be attacked, but how well organisations are prepared for it.

To ensure that data security is not compromised by mobile working, measures are needed that go beyond detecting and closing security gaps. Learn in our whitepaper "Mobile Security: Security is not an add-on but the basis of the product" five reasons why authorities must also rely on "Security by Design" for smartphones. Download now as a PDF!