Mobile Application Security

Mobile applications are enjoying a dramatic increase in deployment. They can run on mobile phones, PDAs and handheld PCs. One reason this is possible is the increases in processing power available in small packages. The ability to network these devices makes them capable of running applications requiring connectivity. Business applications are required by mobile users who carry portable devices such as the iPaq or Blackberry. Field agents may use handheld PCs with integrated mobile phones for connectivity via GSM or GPRS networks.

Applications on mobile devices can use GPRS to facilitate IP connectivity to corporate LANs or networks offering services to business users. With such advances mobile devices are quickly maturing into mobile application platforms.

Risks

Using small hardware platforms to run mobile applications introduces risks to the application and to the operator. Stolen mobile devices with always on access to corporate LANs or applications can lead to security risks. Risks such as unrestricted or unauthorized access to corporate LANs are obvious. Other risks associated with mobile devices may mean they are subverted to abuse applications and application providers.

Advantages

Mobile application security services are designed to prevent fraud, abuse and information leakage from these mobile applications and platforms.

These services aim to identify risks associated with specific mobile platforms, applications built on mobile devices and security risks regarding subversion of mobile platforms.