As mobile devices and applications continue to flood the business landscape, the security holes that these consumer devices pose put your entire enterprise network at risk. Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take to not only heighten your mobile data security, but overcome common hurdles. In this exclusive mobile security guide, discover why mobile data security should be at the top of your priority list, strategies you can take to protect your assets and specific threats that you can’t afford to overlook.
Make mobile data access and security top priorities
There are millions of applications in businesses and public app stores, and they all have at least one thing in common: data. The sheer volume of apps, plus the recent explosion in smart technologies and the Internet of Things, is a recipe for exponential data growth. But, ironically, mobile workers still have a hard time accessing the data they need. There are many ways to provide mobile data access, but it’s difficult to determine which is best for a company and its users. Will an app that serves as a connection to back-end systems suffice, or should IT administrators extend mobile data access to users’ devices? And how will admins ensure mobile data security? Starting down this road typically comes with more questions than answers, but there’s a simple to-do list that can get things rolling. First, decide if data needs to be available offline; then determine how to make that a reality. Throughout the process, make sure mobile data security is a priority. Offline mobile data access Internet access is nearly ubiquitous for most organizations and their employees in the United States; 87.4% of Americans have Internet access. Many companies assume that employees always have access to the Internet, and to the corporate network via virtual private network or a comparable method, but that simply isn’t the case. Companies must consider offline data possibilities in their mobility plans. Businesses must also consider that employees who usually have Internet access sometimes end up disconnected from the Web. For example, Wi-Fi on airplanes becomes more prevalent by the day, but it’s not yet standard, particularly on smaller regional aircrafts. For the road warriors in an organization, this can amount to a lot of lost time and productivity. Many employees who work on the go expect access to their information anytime, anywhere and on any device, and that sometimes includes offline mobile data access. How to make mobile data available, online or off.
How to keep mobile data secure
The lowdown on improving mobile data security
If users are going to work on a variety of endpoints, IT departments better know how to ensure mobile data security. Mobile data can be compromised in a variety of ways: something as simple as a lost or stolen device without a passcode or as complicated as a malicious app that enters an organization’s network through a user’s smartphone. No matter where the threats come from, there are ways to at least minimize the risks.
How does hardware encryption work?
Encrypting mobile hardware is the first line of defense against lost or stolen devices. Encryption completely scrambles any data on a device and the only way to unscramble it is with a pass key. Every operating system is a little different with encryption. Apple’s iOS features a file system with the OS information and user data written to flash memory. It also uses a factory-assigned device ID and group ID with the device user’s passcode so only that passcode can unencrypt data on the phone or tablet.
What does software encryption add to mobile data security?
If hardware encryption is making sure to lock the front door, then software encryption is taking any valuables in the house and locking them away in a safe. Even if hackers get through the device passcode they need a second passcode to access certain data or apps. Software encryption can be much more specific than hardware encryption, allowing IT admins to pick and choose the specific information they want to protect. It requires OS-supplied interfaces or third-party functions to encrypt individual programs such as an email client or Web browser on a device.
What do users need to know about mobile security? Just like users know not to open emails they don’t trust, it is important they know what to look for in untrustworthy apps. To prevent unauthorized device access, IT must educate users about permissions. If an app is asking to access information that doesn’t seem necessary to the app’s function, a red flag should go up. IT must also instruct users to have multiple passwords. That way if a device is stolen, hackers only gain access to one app or profile, not everything on the device.
How can containerization help?
A key cog in the mobile application management machine, containers separate enterprise apps from the rest of a user’s device. If a user downloads a malicious app, the containerized enterprise apps are protected from any nefarious actions the malicious app takes. Admins can prevent certain functions, such as copy and paste, within a containerized app to keep users from moving sensitive data into an unprotected app. They can also wipe the data within application containers without worrying about deleting anything else on a user’s device. Containers are not perfect, though. They often require mobile device management tools to be in place and can block certain app functions so an app cannot connect to a user’s contact list.
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