Jamf Blog
August 1, 2022 by Michael Covington

Key insights from Verizon Mobile Security Index 2022

Mobile security expert Michael Covington outlines important takeaways from Verizon's new report on workplace transformation and the modern threat environment.

What is the Verizon Mobile Security Index (MSI)?

On Tuesday, August 2, Verizon published its fifth annual Mobile Security Index (MSI), once again putting a spotlight on the risks that organizations face when they embrace mobility and empower remote workers. This report, which is designed to help security professionals evaluate their organizational mobile security posture and prepare for new threats, is based on surveys of IT and security practitioners and vendor contributions assessing the modern threat landscape. The MSI provides a unique snapshot of the evolution of threats in the increasingly digital workplace.

For the fifth year in a row, Jamf has been recognized as a key contributor to the Mobile Security Index, providing data and insights derived from our experience as a recognized leader in mobile security.

Verizon MSI 2022 key takeaways

The entire Verizon Mobile Security Index is worth a read if you’re interested in exploring the threat landscape and learning about how changes in the enterprise translate into security considerations. But here are some key takeaways to help you start understanding the situation in 2022, each with a citation so you can find the corresponding page in the report:

Market perspective

1. More remote workers are accessing sensitive applications and data than ever before

  • Companies are increasingly reliant on mobile devices. More than 50% of survey respondents indicate that they have more users using mobile devices, more users doing more with mobile devices, and more devices with access to sensitive data than a year ago. [p. 6]

2. Security leaders are concerned about the risks presented by unprotected mobile devices

  • Almost two in three chief information security officers (CISOs) across all regions agree that remote working makes their organization more vulnerable to cyberattack. [p. 5]

3. Organizations are actively allocating budget to address these risks

  • Over three-quarters (77%) of respondents said that their security spend had increased in the preceding year, with more than 20% indicating a “significant” budget increase for security. [p. 7]

Threat landscape

4. Mobile attacks are increasing

  • 45% of survey respondents said that their organization had been subject to a security incident involving a mobile device that led to data loss, downtime or another negative outcome. [p. 13]

5. Organizations are failing at the basics

  • Nearly half of respondents said their organization didn’t have an acceptable use policy in place. [p. 21]

6. Phishing incidents targeting mobile users continue to become more frequent

  • More than half of respondents reporting encountering an unsafe link while using a mobile device during the third quarter of 2021. [p. 31]

Read the report now!

Interested in learning more about the realities of the mobile threat landscape? Seeking recommendations to better protect a hybrid workforce? There’s no better source for timely insights than the Verizon Mobile Security Index.

Interested in test-driving one of our mobile security solutions?

Register for a free trial today.

Photo of Michael Covington
Michael Covington
Jamf
Michael Covington, VP, Portfolio Strategy.
Subscribe to the Jamf Blog

Have market trends, Apple updates and Jamf news delivered directly to your inbox.

To learn more about how we collect, use, disclose, transfer, and store your information, please visit our Privacy Policy.