What is mobile device security
With remote and hybrid work, mobile security has become even more critical for many companies. Once workers are using their own device and their own Wi-Fi connection, how can organisations make sure their employees and their information are being well protected? The answer lies in having an appropriate mobile device security strategy in place to cover all bases.
How do you develop a mobile device security strategy?
IT needs to secure multiple vulnerabilities in a rapidly changing digital environment, making sure that every aspect of mobile security is aligned – from policies to business requirements, from control and management to the defence execution.
Best practices on mobile device security strategy for multinational corporations
A strong mobile security strategy should plan how employees will access, share, and store information, offering protection in different areas. This includes mobility management, endpoint protection, VPN, email security, and cloud access security broker, to name a few. Here are some examples of best practices for today’s enterprise mobile security.
Up-to-date mobile security policy
The first item of a successful strategy is the security policy. Companies need to detail and customise it, considering their needs and how they will implement it for users. Topics such as device usage and ownership, privacy policies, and security applications need to be included. Besides the company’s information, they should look at private data from employees, customers, partners, and vendors to avoid any kind of breach. If a device is lost or stolen, measures such as remote locking or wiping need to be defined.
It is also important that the security policy is reviewed from time to time. Instead of waiting until a disaster happens, the team should stay on top of security issues and go over the policy to prevent vulnerabilities and attacks.
Centralised mobility management
Technology solutions and services that make devices management easier within an organisation are key to their security strategy. They can provide a central point for visibility and control of each device, increase security according to the established policies, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. That is why mobile device management tools are essential.
They can also be helpful when enterprises adopt a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) approach, making sure the gadgets owned by employees are protected, and even separating business and personal apps.
VPNs for a mobile workforce
A virtual private network (VPN) allows companies to extend their private intranet to a public network, like the internet, through a secure and encrypted connection. It is especially useful with today’s scenario of remote and hybrid work, allowing employees to connect to the company’s network and do their jobs from anywhere, while the company can still control traffic and provide security features.
Stronger authentication
Weak and obvious passwords can make it very simple for cybercriminals to access mobile devices and applications. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) can prevent this from happening by adding other layers of security. Additional but simple steps can go a long way, such as verification of user location, a second authentication device or biometric factors like fingerprint and facial recognition.
User education
Technical solutions need to be complemented with a very important practice to ensure the best mobile security strategy: user education. Social engineering attacks have become increasingly common and the top way to defend a company from them is to educate employees, informing them about the dangers, and encouraging them to keep their devices updated and to follow the security policy.
