Keeping your team connected abroad is essential for communication, productivity, and business operations. Secure, reliable mobile connectivity is a major factor in business success, not just a convenience.
Choosing between physical SIM cards and eSIM technology often comes down to one fundamental question: Which option offers better safety and security for your team or customers?
At Airalo Partners, we understand that protecting your business's integrity and ensuring uninterrupted connection for your team and customers is a package deal. We believe protecting client information and privacy are non-negotiable priorities.
In this article, we discuss the differences between SIM cards and eSIMs in terms of safety and protection for your business.
Physical SIM cards: Vulnerabilities to consider
Physical SIM cards have been the bedrock of mobile communication for decades. They are familiar, but their very nature presents several security challenges.
1. Susceptibility to physical theft and loss
A physical SIM card is a tangible and removable object. If a device is lost or stolen, a fraudster can easily extract and insert the SIM into another phone.
When a SIM card is stolen and transferred, the thief can access the user's phone number. This opens doors for identity theft and other fraudulent activities. For example, this poses a risk for users relying on two-factor authentication (2FA) to log in to platforms with important or confidential information.
2. The risk of SIM swapping fraud
SIM swapping is a sneaky threat, where fraudsters trick mobile carriers into porting a user's phone number to a new SIM card under their control. Once the attacker controls the number, they can bypass two-factor authentication (2FA) for critical accounts, including banking, email, cloud services, and even corporate VPNs. This can lead to severe financial losses and data breaches.
For example, in 2019, hackers famously SIM-swapped Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, gaining access to his account and posting tweets.
3. Physical damage and replacement hassle
Physical SIMs are delicate and prone to damage from mishandling, dust, or moisture. For teams that travel often and constantly swap SIM cards, this is a real risk, as both travel and home carrier SIM cards can experience service disruption when damaged.
Why eSIMs are a safer alternative
eSIMs are embedded directly into compatible devices. Their digital nature offers multiple layers of enhanced security that directly address the vulnerabilities of physical SIMs.
1. Impossibility of physical removal or theft
The biggest security benefit of an eSIM is its embedded nature. You cannot physically remove it from a device. As such, it eliminates the risk of SIM or phone number theft.
eSIMs make traditional SIM swapping attacks considerably more difficult. This is because an unauthorized number transfers require highly technical remote hacking capabilities and carrier authorization. If a device is lost or stolen, the eSIM profile will remain tied to the hardware, leaving time for remote tracking, wiping, or deactivation.
2. Reduced supply chain vulnerabilities
Unlike physical SIMs, which pass through various manufacturing, packaging, and distribution stages, eSIMs are provisioned given digitally. This significantly reduces the potential for tampering or interception at various points in the physical supply chain.
3. Adherence to global security standards
Reputable eSIM providers, like Airalo, strictly comply with rigorous security requirements. Global industry bodies like GSMA mandate these standards. Global standards ensure high levels of security and trust in the eSIM ecosystem.
Understanding shared security best practices
eSIMs offer inherent security advantages. However, remember that no technology can entirely eliminate all risks.
Both eSIMs and physical SIMs remain susceptible to threats like social engineering, phishing attacks, and device compromise if you neglect fundamental cybersecurity practices.
Strong passwords, multi-factor authentication for applications, secure Wi-Fi usage, and employee cybersecurity training are key to minimizing cyberattacks and thefts.
Why Airalo Partners is your secure choice
All our Airalo Partners eSIM solutions are carefully designed to equip global teams or customers with a secure connectivity experience. Our eSIM solutions practice enterprise-grade security as a core principle.
- Cutting-edge encryption: We employ state-of-the-art encryption and security measures. This safeguards all data transmissions and communications.
- Stringent compliance: We adhere to the highest international security and compliance standards, including GDPR, SOC 2 Type II, and PCI DSS. This ensures your data stays protected with best-in-class protocols.
- Secure management: For our corporate customers, Airalo for Business supports secure onboarding processes, including Single Sign-On (SSO). This allows for streamlined and protected user and profile management.
- Proactive security: We maintain a proactive approach to security. We use continuous monitoring, regular audits, and consistent enhancement of our security framework to counter emerging threats.
By partnering with Airalo, you are not just offering convenient global connectivity — you are providing a highly secure solution that protects your organization and your clients against cyber threats.
FAQs
Are eSIMs safe for banking?
Yes. eSIMs are safe for banking. While no technology is completely unhackable, the digital nature of eSIMs means they cannot be physically stolen or lost. As a result, customers are not vulnerable to identity theft or their SIM card numbers being used to bypass two-factor authentication (2FA) methods.
What is SOC 2 Type II compliance?
SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is a rigorous, industry-standard audit developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
The audit is designed to ensure that cloud-based service providers like Airalo handle customer data with the utmost security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
What partnerships does Airalo Partners offer?
Airalo Partners offers a range of partnership solutions designed to integrate eSIM technology into various business models and industries.
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