Mobile Device Security: Implement the Best Practices of MSP Services
The use of mobile devices has obviously skyrocketed in recent years. So much of our lives reside in our smartphones. But it doesn’t just stop at our personal lives. Mobile devices have drastically changed how we are able to work, especially when we aren’t in the office. However, as convenient as these devices can be, some of the biggest data breaches have occurred on them. In fact, Security Magazine reported that, in just one month, 100 million Android users had their personal data leaked by unprotected apps. This shows that the best practices of MSP services are needed in every aspect of your technology experience.
What is Mobile Device Management (MDM)?
MDM, or mobile device management, refers to the measures a business takes to regulate the mobile devices used within the organization. Although an MDM policy encompasses many things, one of the plan’s top priorities is to protect your mobile device from hacking, data leakage, and other threats.
According to Pew Research, 45% of working adults use their personal mobile devices to access work applications from home. BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) methodology poses problems for businesses that want to keep their company data and applications secure. Digital media is summoned and sent, literally, through the air, and this data transfer between personal devices and company servers may fall victim to a mobile demon:
- Corporate Data Vulnerability
- User Restrictions
- Device Incompatibility
- Viruses and Malware
- Security Non-Compliance
Mobile Device Management is the ritual that wards off mobile demons. MDM hides your company’s data in a centrally-controlled cloud with permission-based security. Learn more about MDM in the video below:
Factors that Put Devices At Risk & SOLUTIONS
Does your business currently implement an informal BYOD, bring-your-own-device, policy? You may want to reconsider your mobility plan to protect your mobile devices after you learn about the threats that currently face mobile devices.
Poor Passwords
Do you use the same password for all of your accounts? If you do, were your mobile device to be either stolen or hacked into, you could be in real trouble. They could go through one account after the other, stealing your data without a hitch. Obviously, having bad password habits can present a major threat to your business. We understand that having lots of passwords with complicated strings of characters is frustrating, which is why we recommend a password manager. Pair it with multi-factor authentication. This is a method that requires extra steps for verification so that it is much more of a challenge for an intruder to access your mobile applications.
Unsecured Wi-Fi
One practice of MSP services that you can incorporate into your regular life is being cautious about what you do on public Wi-Fi. Perhaps you end up in a situation where public Wi-Fi is literally all you have, and you need to use it so that you don’t burn through your cellular data. In that case, only access applications without confidential information on them. An example of this could be not logging into your bank account. A cybercriminal could easily put out a fake access point for a network in a high-traffic location. If you are using Wi-Fi that isn’t secured, you could be at risk of being compromised with malware.
Mobile Spyware
Cybersecurity is just as important for your mobile devices as it is for your larger IT systems. Your device could be susceptible to spyware. This is a software program that is installed by clicking on a malicious advertisement or a downloading scam. Not only can the intruder access your data, but they can listen in on your conversations by tapping into your microphone. It doesn’t matter whether you have an Android or iOS device. Either way, if you aren’t careful, you could be affected. To reduce the opportunity for installing spyware, your employees must update their operating systems. You should also run a security application to ensure that there is no spyware already present on their smartphones.
Encryption Gaps
MSP services offer layered cybersecurity for your IT infrastructure, meaning they take care of encryption gaps. When you experience an encryption gap, there is an opening for hackers to get the information you are sharing between devices. Once again, this could be due to a public Wi-Fi network. However, it also goes beyond that to mobile apps. Any service that is unencrypted could give intruders access to your information. So, just remember that end-to-end encryption is necessary to keep your business protected at all times. Only the sender and the recipient will be able to see that data.
Malicious Apps
The App Store and Google Play may appear to be innocent places. After all, what kind of game would steal your information? Unfortunately, it could be the case that your data is being mined and distributed to third parties. Some apps will ask you for various permissions, such as access to your camera roll, and you may pay no mind to them. But this could certainly leave you vulnerable. Be mindful of the app’s privacy policy and reviews by users. It may not even be that someone is taking your data with bad intent. Regardless, you don’t want the wrong hands getting it later on. To protect the devices of your employees, MSP services should use mobile application management tools.
Outdated OS
Any data security initiative you take on needs to be conscious of maintenance tasks. This is on account of outdated software making you more at risk of getting hacked. That being said, smartphones are great because they notify you as soon as an operating system (OS) has an update. Rather than letting it sit in your settings, perform the update quickly to patch any gaps. This will also improve your device’s overall performance because it gets rid of any bugs in your applications. Before updating, remember to back up your data. While it shouldn’t be affected, this is a smart step to follow, just to be on the safe side.
Application-Based Mobile Threats
You may already be slightly familiar with app-based threats. Some applications can be downloaded from websites, and they look harmless enough. Some even pose as games or helpful office applications. You can advise your employees to protect their mobile devices by avoiding questionable or unsecured apps, but how do you plan to take care of the problem if they DO fall victim?
Network-Based Threats
When you or your employees connect to public Wi-Fi networks, they are usually accessing an unsecured network connection. Hackers are able to “listen” to the activity that happens within unsecured networks, so if your employees conduct work-related business on their devices, they are putting your assets at risk. This practice, called “Wi-Fi sniffing” essentially allows the cyber-criminal to snatch your business’s data directly from the air.
LOST OR STOLEN DEVICES
Are your employees storing company documents on their mobile devices? Client contact information? Confidential data? How do you plan to protect your information if the employee’s device is stolen or gets lost? This is more common than you would imagine, and unprotected phones can reveal your business’s secrets to whoever finds it.
HOW DOES A MDM SOLUTION PROVIDER PROTECT YOUR MOBILE DEVICE?
Although threats are intimidating, you should also know that each threat can be mitigated entirely when you implement a MDM solution to protect your mobile devices. Prepare for these threats, and ones like them, by prophylactically setting up your mobility strategy.
Enterprise mobile management, or EMM, is a comprehensive solution that anticipates threats at all levels of mobile usage. It breaks down into three components:
- Device Management: Policies and practices for the physical mobile device.
- Content Management: Controlling who can (and cannot) access, download, or modify company content from their device.
- Application Management: Centrally manage all of the business applications on each employee’s mobile device.
For each threat mentioned above, a properly deployed and managed EMM solution is guaranteed to keep your company information safe.
MOBILE DEVICE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
All mobile device management solutions on the market include the use of cloud-based technology to avoid hosting applications and data where mobile demons are most rampant- the employee’s device.
Cloud-based solutions, like MobileIron and Centrify, offer permission-based security to control who can (and can’t) access data remotely on their device. Depending on the type of security each user has, they can:
1. Access, modify, and download any company applications and files.
2. Access and modify select company applications and files.
3. Access applications only.
4. Access view-only permission for company files.
Mobile demons can’t haunt data that they can’t reach. MDM solutions use a single point of management to regulate how data is accessed and shared by employees remotely, allowing your employees to be productive wherever they are, while protecting critical company data from mobile demons.
PROTECT YOUR BUSINESS WITH MOBILE DEVICE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
If your organization is looking for MSP services, you have come to the right place! The team at Centre Technologies is available to talk to you today about your IT needs. We are committed to being an extension of your team, rather than just your typical outsourced vendor. As you strive for excellence in your business or non-profit endeavors, we get you there with the best local tech and IT support. Contact your local Centre Technologies in Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, or Austin to learn more about how MDM can save your business today.
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About the Author
Organizations trust Centre to deploy, manage, and secure IT solutions that ensure day-to-day business continuity and increase operational efficiency. Centre’s Managed Services provide 24x7 secure by default IT support and proactive consulting that keep businesses moving. Centre Assist™ technical consultants work alongside customers to deliver innovation and business optimization by being an extension of their team. Learn more about Secure Managed Services »