Yasunobu Ikeda/flickr
Now that the Apple Watch has been released in most countries and other imitators are on their way, the tech world is heading towards some big changes. With these will come big security risks, so how should companies prepare themselves?
As some consumers test out their brand-new Apple Watches, others have begun to grow increasingly concerned. The new device allows users to email, make calls, track their heart rate, and check Twitter notifications — completing daily chores and activities without taking out their smartphone. But for those more concerned about data privacy, this new gadget feels increasingly foreboding.
Since the capabilities of this product and its imitators are aimed at the individual user, it makes sense that problems arising from it are geared towards group environments. According to David Upton, CEO of DA Systems, these devices could create serious threats to companies’ IT departments in the coming months, as Business Management Daily reports.
Areas of Concern
The Apple Watch’s primary competitor, Google Glass, caused widespread concern upon its release due to its ability to record and transmit anything its wearer saw over the course of the day.
Today, it remains essential that companies ensure that employees do not use these capabilities to leak valuable information. Privacy breaches could completely undermine any projects that focus on advancements in a given field.
In other situations, the misuse of private data could be completely accidental. If an employee’s device is stolen or hacked, all of the information contained on the device could be accessed by a potentially untrustworthy third party.
It’s even easier to “password surf” on these devices and use the data to infiltrate them than it is on smartphones. Whether the data is personal or related to the company, the results of such a breach could be catastrophic.
There is also the question of remaining streamlined. If employees buy their own devices, the entire company could suffer from the difficulty of remaining organized across multiple platforms.
On the other hand, purchasing the same type of device for the entire staff is expensive, and still wouldn’t account for potential breaches of information. The use of a variety of wearables will also place extra pressure on IT departments, adding to an already difficult management process, according to Beta News.
Preventative Measures
Moving forward, companies would be wise to implement clear usage policies for wearable technology. On both an employee and a customer level, clear expectations about how tech products should be used is essential, and an ability to stick to these stipulations will help companies avoid any potential disasters.
Another action businesses can take against privacy invasion is the use of biometric passwords. These will ensure that a device is rendered useless once stolen, which would prevent harmful post-theft occurrences.
Still, the risks that companies take in allowing their employees to use these devices are plentiful. In many ways, Apple Watches are ticking data time bombs that could lead to the downfall of a previously robust organization. The data forensics team at Integrated Security Services is fully aware of these threats, and can help your company deftly navigate them.
As companies store the majority of their data online — 90%, according to some sources — it is more and more important that they turn to the best in security to protect their records. The team at Integrated has encountered countless instances of data violation and other forms of informational theft.
Even as technology changes rapidly, we stay on top of the trends and can expertly protect your company’s troves of sensitive information. As your office moves further into the digital age, rest assured that we will help make the transition as smooth and safe as possible.
