The popularity of mobile devices combined with the sheer volume of apps available at our fingertips, open up a new world of opportunities and advantages for business. Communication has never been easier. Sharing and editing documents can be carried out while sitting at your local cafe. You can also pay for your coffee leveraging your mobile device. However with the ease of access to your data, challenges arise.
Bring-Your-Own-Device, “BYOD” is popular in small business as the business does not have to purchase mobile devices, and employees are usually willing to use their personal mobile device for personal and business use. The challenge here is protecting your company data on these personal mobile devices.
With the growing trend of loss or breaches of mobile devices it is important to ensure you have a strategy to protect your mobile devices whether it’s BYOD or a company owned device. The scope of mobile devices include items such as smartphones, laptops, tablets and portable storage such as a USB flash drive.
Ensure you have a strategy to protect your mobile devices whether it’s BYOD or a company owned device
Mobile Device Management, “MDM” is one type of security software used within a business to manage, monitor and secure employees’ mobile devices. There are plenty of tools on the market that cater for small, through to enterprise organisations. In some cases, if the smartphone is the only mobile device you need to protect, there are tools such as Apple’s Device Enrolment Program, “DEP” that you may want to review.
Here are some questions to answer before choosing a MDM that fits your business.
What devices am I supporting, and does the software support these devices?
Can I protect business data when the device is lost or stolen?
Can I remotely manage my devices?
How simple is it to create new policies, and what features are available?
Does the software integrate with other existing software in our business?
Is the software capable of separating corporate and personal data (containerisation)?
What device restrictions can be put in place, for example, disable the camera?
In closing, in this day and age it is essential for each business to have a mobile device policy in place that is in line with the business size. With the right solution, you can effectively support and maintain the platform with minimal disruption to the business. A good place to start looking for a mobile device solution is your antivirus vendor.
For any recommendations feel free to reach out to our team who will keep your budget and end goal in mind.
