Using Mobile Security to Create Profit

MSPs strive to protect their clients regardless of the platforms, and, these days, that means extending security to cover mobile devices.

It’s no secret: Mobile device usage is on the rise. International Data Corp. (IDC) recently forecast that more than 1.25 billion smartphones will ship worldwide in 2014, a 23.8 percent increase compared with the unit count in 2013. That growth will stay in the double-digit range for several years, according to IDC. The company predicts a compound annual growth rate of 12.7 percent through 2018. Tablets, IDC noted, will grow at a more modest 6.5 percent year-over-year rate, reaching 233.1 million units for 2014.

As the number of mobile devices grows, so does the potential for a security lapses. Just 36 percent of the respondents to a Ponemon Institute survey commissioned by Raytheon Corp. reported that they have sufficient budget to deal with the rapid growth of mobile devices. In addition, a little more than half of the respondents acknowledged that “security practices on mobile devices have been sacrificed in order to improve employee productivity.” Overall, the study cited malware infections and end-user negligence as the two biggest mobile security risks.

Indeed, mobile devices are increasingly prone to malicious code. Alcatel Lucent’s Kindsight Security Labs, in a recent report, noted that mobile device infections increased 17 percent in the first half of 2014. In addition to cyberattacks, mobile devices are also highly vulnerable to theft and loss due to their size and portability.

Seize the Opportunity

MSPs have an opportunity to help customers address their security vulnerabilities. Small and midsize businesses (SMBs), a traditional MSP stronghold, may be particularly in need of security solutions. SMBs are less likely to use advanced antivirus, remote data wiping and other mobile security safeguards.

An MSP can help its customers–and generate additional revenue and margin–with Webroot’s SecureAnywhere Mobile Protection. Webroot’s technology provides mobile device protection with centralized management for ease of administration.

With SecureAnywhere Mobile Protection, an MSP can offer its SMB customers a security suite that includes antivirus, secure Web browsing and downloads, and lost device tracking and protection. The cloud-based solution supports Android and iOS devices.

Extending MSPs’ Portfolio of Services

Webroot extends an MSP’s portfolio of services to include mobile device security, which helps create opportunities for incremental revenue. What’s more, Webroot’s technology enables MSPs to offer those security services more profitably. Antivirus products, historically, have proven time-consuming and expensive to install and maintain. But Webroot removes much of the cost out of the task of endpoint security.

For one, Webroot solutions offer a lighter technology footprint. Webroot’s signature database resides in the cloud, rather than in large-footprint client-side software. Webroot’s mobile security solutions deploy a lightweight local client on each device. The result is shorter installation time and faster device scanning, which combine to reduce an MSP’s labor costs and improve productivity. MSPs also avoid the expense of setting up hardware at the customer’s site.

In addition, Webroot provides efficient device management. MSPs should manage mobile devices through a Web-based management console. This approach lets service providers monitor their customers’ growing population of devices from a centralized platform, rather than log into each customer’s administrative console separately. Centralized management reduces the amount of MSP time–and, therefore, money–spent on managing devices.

SMBs need to secure their employees’ mobile devices. Working with Webroot, an MSP can provide a higher level of data and device protection for clients–and do so profitably.

Learn More:  http://mysite.webroot.com/WR-MSP-Contact?=sc701F0000000f2Pi