The context: why focus on manufacturers?
Mobile cybersecurity has become a strategic priority for enterprises as smartphones have become everyday work tools. Yet the most critical lever for securing this ecosystem remains largely underutilized: the device manufacturers themselves.
Apple, Samsung, Google — these companies control the entire technical stack: from the operating system to the app ecosystem, and the hardware itself. They define system architecture, manage security update cycles, enforce permission structures, and design the built-in defenses against attacks. Security by design must be embedded from the ground up — and manufacturers are uniquely positioned to make it happen.
Fragmentation: a major vulnerability
Particularly in the Android ecosystem, fragmentation severely worsens the risk landscape. Millions of devices continue to operate on outdated OS versions, missing critical patches. Without a consistent, enforced update policy from manufacturers, vast swathes of the mobile fleet are left exposed.
While mobile operators can offer network-level protections, their ability to solve this systemic issue remains limited.
A matter of user trust
For users, it’s the phone itself — not the network — that must guarantee security. They expect continuous, embedded, and transparent protection directly from the device they hold in their hands. Building and maintaining this trust is a major competitive asset that manufacturers must protect — and leverage.
🛡️ What manufacturers must do next
- Extended update guarantees: Commit to a minimum of five years of security updates for all models, including mid-range and entry-level devices.
- Enhanced hardware security: Integrate secure hardware enclaves (like Apple’s Secure Enclave) to authenticate the OS and isolate sensitive data.
- Native mobile threat protection: Embed detection systems into the OS to block smishing, voice phishing, and mobile malware, without relying solely on third-party apps.
- Stronger App Store defenses: Tighten pre-publication app reviews and monitor runtime behaviors to detect malicious activity.
- BYOD-ready design: Natively separate work and personal data to support secure enterprise use (as exemplified by Samsung Knox).
- Greater transparency: Implement responsible vulnerability disclosure practices and ensure quick deployment of critical patches.
👉 This is exactly where I support mobile industry players: thinking ahead, anticipating risks, and building robust solutions so that security is no longer a blind spot, but a true lever for trust and performance.
👉 Feel free to contact me to discuss how we can turn mobile security into a strategic advantage.