Protect yourself and your business against mobile device security threats.

16 Oct

You know the saying that the team is only as strong as its weakest link? Well, that’s also true of mobile device security. When trying to secure a system and network, even if you have put every effort into ensuring the setup is perfect, it just takes one end user to make a bad decision or be slack on the security front, and it can all come crashing down.

Nearly everyone on the planet totes a mobile phone these days and that means that hackers and malware have even more opportunity to strike than ever before. Mobile device security is under attack and as more and more users join the “party”, more and more opportunity for security threats arise.

What’s the trick? How does a company protect its mobile devices against security threats?

Some say that the trick is to remove the responsibility of device security from the end user and make it the responsibility of the IT department. IT department experts can implement policies and limitations that protect mobile device security.

Of course ,it’s not all about policies, but also about having the right tools, technology and know-how to protect devices and end-users. Moreover, it’s not the end-user that has access to these things.

How to Prevent Mobile Device Security Threats Negatively Impacting your Business

Mobile devices are vulnerable to risks including malware, data breaches and more. The first step to protecting your business is to treat your mobile device security as an ongoing process.

Implement the following best practices in your business:

  • Ensure mobile security systems and apps are up-to-date. All mobile devices should have the latest modern security patches, full system encryption, strong password and PIN requirements, and biometric authentication.
  • All mobile apps should be thoroughly vetted and regularly updated.
  • All security events must be logged.
  • Insist all end-users make use of company-wide file sharing and document collaboration and absolutely no personal consumer-based apps.
  • Staff members must be trained in company mobile device security policies and protocols.
  • Provide staff members with company devices that have security systems installed and in place. BYOD (bring your own device) work environments lead to security breaches.
  • Encourage regular data backups from devices instead of storing sensitive information on end-user devices.

How to Reduce the Risk of Smartphone Viruses

Smartphone viruses can be detrimental to a business’ entire mobile security system. Here’s what your company IT department can do to reduce the risk of such viruses.

  • Stay up to date on the latest malware and mobile viruses.
  • Ensure all devices have the latest, updated mobile operating systems. When operating systems are updated, the security features are usually greatly improved.
  • Set in place enterprise mobility management policies to ensure that threats are recognised early on and can be contained.
  • Implement two-factor authentication.
  • Limit the web pages that end users can access through their browser on company devices.

How to Reduce Mobile Device Security Threats Whether you are at Home or Abroad

Employees that take their work mobiles home or need to travel overseas with them are faced with unique mobile device security threats. Your IT department can do the following to reduce security threats.

  • Make sure employees are aware of their privacy rights in the area they are travelling based on the customs and border protection laws of that particular country.
  • Some companies have separate mobile devices used only for travel and basic communications. No company information is stored on the device.
  • Instruct end users to avoid using public Wi-Fi.
  • Multi-factor authentication should be implemented to ensure that any data on a mobile device is absolutely safe, especially if a mobile phone is stolen or lost.
  • All data should be stored in the cloud and not on-device. Employees should be trained on how to do secure backups daily and how to remove sensitive data securely from the device too.

Preventing mobile device security threats is not easy. The end-user certainly plays a role in the process, but with the right tools and implementations from the IT experts, the security of business mobile devices can be greatly improved.

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