Mobile Device Security

The need for Mobile Device Security may vary from one organization to another. The primary objective of such security measures is to prevent unauthorized access to the business network through authentication and restriction. Without implementing proper security, organizations find it challenging to ascertain the safety of their mobile phone data.

What is Mobile Device Security?

The strategy, consisting of technologies and software that secure devices from malicious software attacks or electronic threats, can be considered compatible with mobile device security. Over 50% of all businesses rely on a network of mobile devices such as smartphones and laptops. With the addition of the Internet of Things (IoT) to this mix, there is a rapidly increasing need to enhance the business approach to mobile device security.

Basic Elements of Device Security

To establish security across the mobile device network of a company, every organization needs to manage multiple layers of approaches through strategic investments in strategies and solutions. Despite a few key elements involved, each organization will need to leverage a customized approach to meet its specific security requirements.

Clear Enforcement of Policies and Procedures:

The rules and policies set by the company are effective only when appropriately communicated. This should include:

• - The purpose of the device.
• - Levels of operating system access available to employees.
• - Limits on the company's access to personal devices.
• - Whether remote device wiping is executable by the IT department.
• - Regular password updates.
• - Diverse passwords.

Biometric Access:

A more secure and reliable alternative to passwords is the implementation of biometrics. This involves authenticating biological features of employees, such as fingerprints, voice, facial recognition, or iris scanning. Multifactor biometric authentication processes are now available on smartphones and other devices, easily set up by employees or administrators.

Avoiding Public Wi-Fi Networks:

It is the responsibility of a business enterprise to educate users about the risks of using public Wi-Fi networks and how hackers can access and steal data without their knowledge. Encouraging the use of smartphone data over the need to resort to free public data networks is crucial.

Public Wi-Fi networks are rarely secured, providing additional avenues for device penetration. Users dealing with sensitive information while connected to a public Wi-Fi network face numerous threats, including the theft of personal information such as logins and financial data.

Application Threats:

Millions of malicious applications available for download pose a significant security threat to a company's network. Downloading such applications can lead to unauthorized access to the company's data structure. Therefore, organizations can take measures such as educating employees to avoid such applications or banning the download of specific types of applications on personal devices.

Device Encryption:

All smart devices on the market today come equipped with encryption features. These features are highly beneficial as they transform data into an unbreakable code that can only be decrypted by authorized personnel, ensuring the security of this data.

Various Security Measures in Mobile Device Security

1. Enterprise Mobile Management (EMM):

   It is crucial for companies to take all possible measures to ensure that their personal device network is not susceptible to cyber threats. To achieve this, establishing a core system for Enterprise Mobile Management (EMM) is necessary. This enables IT administrators to gain valuable insights, helping them proactively identify threats.

2. Email Security:

   Employee emails serve as a primary gateway for malware and ransomware to infiltrate the network. To create resilience against such attacks, companies need to implement essential and robust email security measures to detect, process, and block threats before causing any harm. This includes faster prevention of data loss through end-to-end encryption.

3. Endpoint Protection:

   Secure endpoints are critical in preventing remote access to mobile devices. Effective endpoint security ensures uniform security policies, alerting IT administrators to threat detection and enabling them to address issues before any damage occurs. It also facilitates monitoring of endpoint operations and backup strategies.

4. Virtual Private Network (VPN):

   A VPN functions as an extended private network over a public one. This means users can send or receive information from a public network while virtually mimicking a private network. VPN encryption also facilitates secure access to corporate networks and applications.

5. Secure Web Gateways:

   Cloud-based networks are rapidly evolving, making it essential to enforce security policies protecting against malware and phishing in real-time. Effectively securing web gateways enables the detection of attacks and threats in a single gateway, managing an immediate countermeasure to protect all other gateways.

6. Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB):

   CASB can be considered a layer of protection placed between consumers and cloud service providers. This tool enforces compliance, governance, and security on cloud applications, safeguarding the underlying infrastructure of the core cloud system.

7. Data Backups:

   Today's mobile devices provide large storage capacities for contacts, messages, files, videos, and images. However, regular data backups are necessary in case of theft or malicious intrusion, such as a ransomware attack.

Why Mobile Device Security is Important

Mobile devices like laptops and smartphones are used by 90% of employees in any organization. When these devices are connected to the company's data network, they pose a significant security threat if not properly examined.

Cybercriminals target large companies to extract sensitive information or extort money through deception, malicious applications, data leaks, spyware, and untrusted Wi-Fi networks. There is also a fundamental risk of employees losing their devices. These risks are significant because individuals may not practice safe cybersecurity habits, such as implementing multiple layers of security or enabling password protection.

To enhance mobile device security in an organization against any malicious threats, appropriate security measures can be shared with a reliable Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) platform alongside other network security applications to facilitate remote management by the IT department. Achieving this level of capability can increase network security, allowing IT administrators to remotely wipe company data from any lost devices, manage updates, detect stolen devices, and more.

Benefits of Mobile Device Security

• Real-time Protection: Managing a mobile device security solution enables the network to remain safe from electronic threats 24/7. IT administrators can identify and prevent malware infiltration in real-time. It is crucial to remain protected from these risks as data damages can be of significant importance.

• Secure Browsing: Browsing is essential for all wireless devices, as it is the means through which information is transferred. With the proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT), it is imperative to keep mobile device browsing secure from cyber threats. By implementing Mobile Device Security, companies can maintain their security standards at their best, protecting devices from web attacks.

• Improved Device Performance: More companies are adopting a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) structure, creating an increasing need for Mobile Device Security to prevent network attacks by infiltrators and fraudsters. There is also a need to track devices in case of loss, and mobile access to these devices enhances automated registration and backup processes.