Which operating system is safest for a work phone?

If your business mobile’s contract is about to run out you are probably asking yourself: “Which operating system is safest for a work phone?”

To make it complicated tech giants Apple and Google have gone head-to-head with the releases of their latest operating systems for smartphones.

Apple’s iOS 9 versus Google’s Android Marshmallow.

To help you decide we’ve answered some key questions…

What security upgrades have been made for Apple’s iOS 9 update?

To keep unwanted people accessing iPhones, Apple has lengthened the entry passcode from four-digits to six. This might not sound like much but it means there are now one million possible combinations compared to the previous 10,000.

The update also adds two-factor authentication. When you sign in from a new device or browser you will now be prompted to enter a verification code which will be sent to your phone – hopefully keeping hackers out.

What security upgrades have been made for Google’s Marshmallow?

Google has tried to put more power in the hands of the user. Apps now ask for permission to access data when it’s needed and you can even deny permission and continue to use the app. The update will also warn you if the firmware and operating system has been modified from the factory settings when you boot up.

Is one safer than the other for downloading apps?

One of the best things about smartphones is the ability to download apps. It means your device can be turned into the tool you need it to be.

But by downloading them what chances do you have of picking up a virus?

Well, if you’re using an iPhone there really is very little. The user can only download from the App Store and Apple has tight security checks on all the apps.

The company is so confident it even pulled a number of anti-virus apps from its store saying they would mislead customers into thinking they could have issues.

It’s a similar situation with downloading apps from Google Play. However, Android users can download from pirate apps stores, which could lead to viruses or malware.

What happens if I lose my phone? Is it easily recovered?

When questioning which operating system is safest for a work phone you have to question what will happen if you misplace it or it gets stolen. Both Marshmallow and iOS 9 come with location devices ­– Apple’s Find My iPhone and Google’s Android Device Manager.

Both allow the user to track their phone making a recovery more likely. Both also let the user remotely lock the device and, if all else fails, you can erase everything. Frankly, there is little to separate the two ­– we will have to call it a draw.

Which operating system is safest for a work phone?  The conclusion

The decision is ultimately up to you and what works best for your business. There are other operating systems out there including Windows OS plus you could look at the benefits of telephony.