How embedded connectivity helps you avoid leaky public Wi-Fi

Cybercriminals don’t need physical access to your device to compromise it. They just need you to connect to the wrong Wi-Fi network.

Millions of unsecured hotspots blanket airports, hotels, coffee shops, and co-working spaces. Some are simply misconfigured. Others are deliberate traps — rogue access points built to mimic trusted networks and quietly intercept data. Even cautious users face risk when login credentials, emails, or virtual private network (VPN) tokens travel across unencrypted channels.

Mobile teams, especially those in sales or field service, are most exposed. They connect on the go, often outside the protection of a corporate firewall. And when connectivity takes priority over security, the attack surface expands, and even small vulnerabilities can lead to outsized consequences.

The hidden cost of staying connected

Mobile professionals often find themselves connecting to public Wi-Fi out of necessity. But that convenience comes at a cost.

More than 5 million unsecured worldwide public Wi-Fi networks have been identified since the beginning of this year, and about 33% of users still connect to them. Meanwhile, research indicates that nearly one in five people (18%) have experienced security incidents from using unsafe public Wi-Fi.

The wider consequences extend far beyond individual risk. IBM’s 2025 Cost of a Data Breach Report shows that the average global breach cost dropped to $4.44 million, but in the U.S., it surged to an all-time high of $10.22 million. Shadow AI breaches — where unauthorized AI tools are involved — add roughly $670K more per incident for organizations lacking AI governance and access controls. The average breach lifecycle now runs 241 days, forcing organizations into prolonged, high-stakes recovery cycles even before final containment is achieved.

Each unprotected connection is a potential breach point, one that extends beyond the device to the systems and data behind it.

How embedded cellular secures mobility

The traditional fix for insecure Wi-Fi connections has been policy and trust. Companies require VPN use, issue mobile hotspots, or lean on training to help employees recognize risky networks. However, each of those strategies assumes consistent behavior in inconsistent environments.

Embedded cellular shifts that model entirely. When connectivity is built into the device via a pre-provisioned SIM or eSIM, there’s no need to search for a network, log into a portal, or configure a VPN. Devices connect automatically to the carrier network the moment they power on, bypassing public Wi-Fi entirely.

This change eliminates a major variable. It doesn’t rely on the user to make the secure choice. There’s no exposure window between login and VPN connection. And there’s no need for physical hotspots, external modems, or manual provisioning. Connectivity just works securely, invisibly, and everywhere coverage allows. That kind of consistency matters. Sales teams on the road, field crews in remote locations, and compliance-bound professionals in healthcare and finance all benefit from devices that don’t ask them to make a security decision; they just connect.

From a security standpoint, cellular access offers multiple advantages. Carrier networks are encrypted by default. SIM-based authentication provides a more reliable form of identity and access control than shared passwords or captive portals. And centralized management makes it easier for IT to maintain visibility over remote endpoints, even when they’re in transit.

Why deploying connected PCs is hard at scale

While the appeal of embedded cellular is evident, deploying it across an enterprise is rarely straightforward. IT teams are used to managing Wi-Fi settings through group policies or mobile device management (MDM) tools, not coordinating with mobile carriers, sourcing SIMs, or troubleshooting eSIM profiles.

Today, organizations must select the right combination of device, carrier, and connectivity plan. Yet, each original equipment manager (OEM) and carrier handles provisioning differently. There’s no universal workflow, only layers of dependencies.

Even when the right hardware and plan are in place, provisioning often breaks down. IT is forced to juggle spreadsheets of international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) and integrated circuit card identification (ICCID) numbers, manually register devices with the carrier, and wait for confirmation that activation is complete. If anything goes wrong, users receive laptops that can’t connect.

Add global logistics or multiple carriers into the mix, and the challenge grows exponentially. Devices need to be tested before shipment. eSIMs must be assigned, activated, and locked down to prevent tampering. MDM enrollment must be timed so that security policies don’t interfere with provisioning. And once devices are in the field, support teams need a clear escalation path if something fails.

A better way to deploy at scale

For many organizations, this becomes a time-consuming, error-prone process. The result is delayed rollouts, high-touch support, inconsistent user experiences, and the exact kind of unmanaged gaps embedded cellular is supposed to solve.

That’s where SHI comes in.

SHI’s activation services and End-User Integration Center are designed to simplify connected PC deployments from the inside out. Device and SIM identifiers are captured early so that provisioning can begin before a box ever ships. Certified technicians handle carrier coordination, SIM or eSIM activation, and network testing so end users receive devices that just work, straight out of the box.

Configuration is aligned with MDM enrollment to prevent policy clashes. Devices can be shipped to central offices or directly to employees, fully activated and secured. And if anything goes wrong, SHI’s activation team serves as the first line of support, so IT isn’t stuck navigating between OEMs and carriers.

Whether you’re deploying 50 devices or 5,000 across multiple regions and networks, the outcome is the same: fewer delays, fewer tickets, and a predictable, repeatable deployment process.

Laying the groundwork for a secure connection

Getting devices into users’ hands is only half the equation. What happens next — how those devices connect, perform, and stay protected — determines whether mobility becomes a strength or a liability.

By building connectivity into the device from the start, organizations gain operational efficiency, eliminate exposure windows, reduce friction for end users, and close gaps that traditional security tools can’t reach. It’s the difference between devices that simply work and devices that actively protect what matters most.

Ready to secure your connected PC strategy? Talk to our experts to streamline deployment, harden endpoint security, and ensure every device is activated, configured, and protected from day one.