With smartphones, tablets, laptops and other mobile devices contributing to the growing bring your own device (BYOD) trend, IT departments are facing security risks and concerns trying to secure these devices and the data on them.

According to the Ponemon Institute (News - Alert), more than 50 percent of surveyed organizations reported data loss during the past year and 59 percent saw an increase in malware infections due to insecure mobile devices.

To face these challenges and concerns, AT&T (News - Alert) recently introduced security software and services designed to help businesses protect the smartphones and tablets that employees are bringing into the workplace. The software will work for mobile devices on any cellular network.

The software package includes a service called AT&T Mobile Security, which allows offices to build antivirus protection into their networks. It also has an app called Toggle for office workers to do business-related activities, such as e-mail or transferring sensitive documents, inside an encrypted and monitored environment; when they leave the app, they can resume using the device for personal tasks. There is also a mobile device management tool in case an IT department needs to remotely wipe data from an employee’s smartphone, for example.

"Based on what we saw in the PC-based era, we know device-level protection alone is not enough to secure the mobile environment," said Ed Amoroso, chief security officer, AT&T, in a statement. "An effective approach to security must include network level visibility to detect threats before they reach the enterprise, so customers can confidently and safely take advantage of mobile solutions for their businesses."

AT&T's multilayer approach to security and mobility management provides businesses and organizations with in-depth protection across wireless environments including device and network level threat detection, application controls, and secure mobile VPN.  

"Key differentiators for AT&T are its deep expertise in network security and its holistic approach to Enterprise Managed Mobility," said Stacy Crook, senior analyst, Enterprise Mobility at IDC (News - Alert). "The addition of mobile security to its portfolio is a logical and appropriate next step to providing what today's businesses need for protecting their mobile environments."

The new tools will give IT departments the ability to help manage mobile devices but still give employees the freedom and privacy to do what they want with their devices when they’re not working, Amoroso said.

Pricing for the products varies based on the size of the company and the package of services purchased.

Want to learn more about today’s powerful mobile Internet ecosystem? Don't miss the Mobility Tech Conference & Expo, collocated with ITEXPO Austin 2012 taking place Oct. 2-5 2012, in Austin, TX.  Stay in touch with everything happening at Mobility Tech Conference & Expo. Follow us on Twitter.