An enterprise or an organization has to have a strategy for Mobile Device Security that can effectively minimize the menace without limiting utility. Today, mobile device security becomes a vital part of an enterprise mobile strategy. In the case of an unsecured mobile device being lost or stolen, its owner cannot under any circumstance give assurance about the data stored in the device, and therefore, mobile device security is considered as a prime factor for any business.
Following are the mechanisms for safeguarding mobile devices:
SCREEN PROTECTION – This is the fundamental requirement of a mobile, as there is no way to protect the data on a missing device if the screen protection is not enabled in advance. It can be obtained through either the Exchange ActiveSync or mobile device management software.
ENCODING (ENCRYPTING MOBILE DEVICES) – This is indispensable as a mobile device is similar to that of a computer that collects and stores data in a file system on a disk. Since there are numerous ways to retrieve the data, anyone can connect a mobile device that supports all file system created, and, which ,when connected acts as an external hard disk making the stored devices legible and comprehensible on the computer. Thus, only after entering the right PIN, pattern or password, the person connecting the device will be able to obtain the data.
REMOTE-WIPE – It is accessible on devices with SIM cards for 3G as well as 4G data networks so long as the device is connected to the network. It is also beneficial for users or IT to delete data from lost or stolen devices.
PASSWORD CONTROLS – Apart from a simple account or a password, mobile devices should be used with accuracy to ensure that the possession of device does not as a matter of course permit to obtain important information and systems.
CONTROL THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE – Those organizations or companies who supply mobile devices to employees must form a practice to limit or block the use of third-party software to prevent the information falling into the wrong hands.
SEPARATE PERSONAL AND ENTERPRISE INFORMATION – Enables IT to secure, control and erase corporate data and applications without adversely affecting personal photos, music, games or emails.
ADOPTING MANAGEMENT CLIENT APPLICATION – It is an application that can be downloaded to keep the user’s mobile devices in compliance and restricting the introduction of malware through spam and unauthorized apps.
REMOVAL OF EXCESS APPLICATION DATA – Make sure about removing all enterprise information from the device as the excessive information may be risky.
TRAINING THE EMPLOYEES – Employees should be educated about the mobile threats and enterprise mobile device management as well as security policies.
ERASING UNWANTED INFORMATION – The risk of losing important data can be reduced by erasing unwanted and unnecessary information such as email attachments, downloads from websites and files shifted between computers through handheld. Thus, it is advisable to have the least amount of data on your device.
BE ALERT ABOUT YOUR CONNECTIVITY – If your device is used on wireless networks, be aware of unsecured wireless access points as your wireless signals could be blocked or investigated.
KEEP YOUR SOFTWARE UPDATED – If your software does not have an updated application, you may require downloading it to your computer and install it through USB to get the latest applications for your device and security updates for securing your information.
SET-UP THE SCREEN’S AUTO-LOCK FUNCTION – Some handhelds frequently require a password after being used for a certain period of time, and disables operation if they are inactive for a while, thus preventing it from being accessed without your knowledge.
USE ANTI -MALWARE APP- Mobile devices could be exposed to malware and viruses as desktop computers. It is a new field or an area for hackers, but industry analysts expect Trojans, Spam, viruses, and all manner of scams to grow following the growth of mobile device market.
AVOID ALL JAILBREAKS – Make sure that the phone is locked as against jailbroken, as jailbreaking a Smartphone can authorize the user to run unsubstantiated apps.
AVOID UNNECESSARY USE OF WI-FI AND BLUETOOTH – It restricts the potential for access by hackers.
REGULAR BACK-UP – This practice can restore the data in case the device gets damaged, lost or stolen.
AVOID PHISHING SCHEMES – Potential phishing schemes as well as malware threats should be avoided by avoiding clicking on the links or opening email attachments from untrusted sources as they may be fraudulent.
To sum up, of all the mobile devices, laptops are the easiest to secure whereas the Smartphones are the most challenging ones, while the tablets fall between the two.
We, at IndiaNIC, are always ready to offer you a real-time assistance for ensuring mobile device and app security.
