Security Issues You Can Run Into On Your Mobile Device

When it comes to mobile devices, you have a fine line to tread with security. On one hand, you want to make sure your devices are protected properly from all manners of threats. On the other, you need to balance this with productivity, and ensuring that your employees don’t feel overly restricted by your policies. To help you implement appropriate mobile device security practices, we’ve put together three of the top issues you should plan for and how you can address them.

Malicious Applications

The key to productivity with mobile devices comes in the form of applications. These are akin to the software or programs you install on your computer, and they are used for all manner of tasks such as data storage, file access, communication, productivity, and so on. While it’s true that many of the tried-and-true productivity apps you are likely to use can be found on the app stores for both Android and iOS, you might have to sift through an ocean of potentially malicious apps, too. Don’t download applications that you don’t recognize, especially if you are unfamiliar with the publisher or developer.

Unsecured Connections

Part of the problem with mobile devices is that they need to connect to a wireless network in order to be useful; otherwise the user has to use their mobile data, something which might rub some users the wrong way. The problem with wireless networks is that they are often unsecured, and if they are secured, they are not secured properly. Hackers might be able to see traffic moving to and from devices using an unsecured network, and they can then steal that information while it’s in transit.

Lost or Stolen Devices

Perhaps the biggest problem with mobile devices is that they are more prone to be stolen or lost because they are outside of the office environment. We all know how easy it is to misplace a smartphone while in the comfort of our own homes, so imagine how scary it would be to misplace a device with company data on it while on a business trip.

Security Solutions

If you want to get the most out of your mobile devices while also optimizing security, then we recommend you implement the following security solutions and measures. They should be able to help you safeguard your devices and your data from external threats.

• Mobile Device Management: Comprehensive MDM solutions allow you to control app downloads on devices, as well as remotely wipe lost or stolen devices should the need arise. It’s also easy to track account access and information about the devices through an MDM tool.
• Virtual Private Networks (VPN): One big way to protect devices is through a virtual private network, or VPN. A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the data it’s accessing, meaning hackers cannot simply observe or steal data being sent to or from each location.

To get started with any of the above security measures, be sure to contact SCW at (509) 534-1530.