Mobile Security & Corporate Governance
As we have discussed before, managing a company’s mobility lifecycle requires a certain investment. It usually pays off. While there are many benefits you can exploit from your EMM investment, the most compelling benefit is data security. Distributing a coherent and consistent set of practices across devices, carriers, platforms, and data sources can make the difference in how to prevent sensitive company data from malicious mobile activity.
With respect to the safety of company data, there is a lot at stake: regulatory compliance, the business’ reputation, and business continuity. There are a few decision points that anyone seeking a mobility lifecycle management solution should consider. For starters, how do you implement standardized mobile security measures once the mobile device is in the hands of its new user? Inventory tracking systems must be in place. What happens if the device is lost or stolen? “In a business world filled with threats, the last thing an enterprise needs is to be its own worst enemy. Unfortunately, that’s what’s happening,” according to one study. Aside from disgruntled ex-employees determined to cause some damage, some former employees will just absent-mindedly walk off with mobile devices without any thought of the company data still loaded on it. This can have an effect on corporate governance, especially in regards to company compliance. A written protocol should be firmly in place and read by all employees. It is important to have strong and well-disseminated guidelines and data access limits. When paired with an MDM solution, this can help mitigate any potential damage. To curb data misuse, it is important to have a system like Smart Data Controls implemented. This can allow you to monitor usage and determine what apps are being used, protecting your company from unauthorized app downloads and malware exposure.
EMM policies must be optimized for your company’s specific structure and needs. Another question that is essential to a solid EMM policy: is your mobile security policy up to date? As technology and workflows change and evolve from year to year, your company’s mobile security policies must keep up with the times. Important factors to assess are your company’s policy on passcodes, blacklisted apps, and international travel risks. Support for security-related network connection issues is also paramount. Organizations that deploy information governance strategies are more successful at achieving desired outcomes in regards to security and corporate governance.
Do you have all the expertise in-house to apply EMM consistently across carriers? Dealing with mobility issues can be taxing on an IT department. It is crucial to ensure that your company’s IT department can provide an immediate response to lost or stolen devices, including performing a remote data wipe. Often it can be easier to off-load the user support to a qualified third party.
There are many tradeoffs to calculate in establishing appropriate access to company-permitted apps, data, content, and services; such as corporate email, slide decks, marketing material, and RFPs. Make sure the necessary underlying resources and tools are in place and working properly every day. Maintain the full coverage for your corporation’s mobility lifecycle and ensure it is properly integrated with your organization’s environment. Although it may seem like a laundry list of issues to deal with regarding mobile security, having the right measures in place can help protect your company’s sensitive data from threatening mobile activity.