A lot of organizations and third-party groups draft policies for the security of mobile devices.
The actual policies can differ from one organization to another, but they all share similar techniques and best practices to ensure data security & protection. Today, we are surrounded by tech gadgets that also contain troves of sensitive personal data.
That’s why it has become more important to ensure that this data is protected from unauthorized access. When we talk about organizations, the importance of data encryption and protection becomes a lot more important. That’s why organizations create comprehensive policies to ensure that the data remains safe.
Mobile Device Security Policy
In any security policy, the role of mobiles and other portable devices have become more paramount. But it has also given rise to a lot of challenges for network security as well. When we talk about mobile devices, there are a lot of threats such as data leakage, malicious mobile apps, spyware, phishing scams, and even unsecured Wi-Fi networks!
The actual elements of mobile device security will differ for each organization. But let’s look at some of the best practices which are usually a part of most policies:
Establish & Enforce
A mobile device security policy is only as effective as the organization’s ability to communicate, establish, and enforce these employees among the employees.
A good policy must include the rules such as:
- Which devices are allowed?
- Which OS levels are allowed?
- What type of access a company can have on a personal phone.
- Can the IT department remotely wipe a device or not?
- Requirements for password
Password Protection
Passwords on mobile devices provide an easy to prevent data theft and unauthorized access. For iPhone encryption, all that’s required is to set up a passcode. As for the Android encryption, that can be done within settings – But to do that, a password (passcode) must be established as well.
So yes, setting up a strong password should be the basis of any policy. Bust just using a strong password shouldn’t be the only concern – Reuse of the same password across multiple services and devices must be discouraged as well.
Biometrics
Many organizations have started to use biometric solutions instead of relying on passwords. Today, it has become possible to secure mobile devices using biometrics such as voice, face, and even fingerprint. Most devices (Android & iOS) come with built-in biometric features for data protection & to prevent unauthorized access.
Say No to Public Wi-Fi
Today, every mobile device has the ability to connect to the internet. This means that any mobile security policy must cover network protection as well. One of the major dangers which can arise in any network is through the use of public or unprotected Wi-Fi networks.
Public Wi-Fi networks make it easy for hackers and third parties to breach a device and steal important data. The best way to avoid this is to ensure that no one uses any open Wi-Fi networks.
Applications
Malicious applications also pose a major threat to the security of mobile devices. Using these applications, a hacker can easily get unauthorized access to the mobile as well as the company’s data.
To prevent this problem, educate the employees about the dangers of such applications. Another alternative is to outright ban the employees from downloading high-risk apps.
Phone Encryption
The majority of devices are bundled with encryption features which makes it easy to encrypt mobile phone data. Depending on the device, the exact steps to enable encryption will differ. But once the encryption is enabled, it can provide a much higher level of security.
