Mobile Device Management for the Modern Workforce
Our mobile devices go with us everywhere, and they are essential parts of our daily lives. This not only applies to their social capabilities but their function in our work lives as well.
They have been just as vital to the everyday work experience as traditional desktops devices. In many cases they are used more often than traditional computer devices especially given the move to hybrid work over the past few years.
Therefore, mobile device management is becoming more and more essential to the cyber security of businesses.
In this article, we’ll discuss what MDM is, how you can implement it for your business and detail some of the best practices for seamlessly integrating a Mobile Device Management (MDM) policy into your company.
What is MDM?
MDM, aka Mobile Device Management, is software that supports the proper management of mobile devices by a business’s employees. This is done by enforcing security policies on tablets, smartphones, and laptops.
It includes storing essential information about mobile devices, deciding which apps can be present on the devices, locating devices and securing devices if lost or stolen.
How you can use a MDM policy
There are a variety of ways to implement a device management policy because it all depends on the specific needs and attributes that make your company unique. The great thing about MDM is that you can tailor it in whatever ways you can possibly think. It’s customizable and can be easily adjusted over time to fit the requirements of your team.
Predominantly, this service functions through the cloud. However, there is the possibility of setting up a vendor-specific policy through companies like Apple or Microsoft. Regardless of how you initiate your policy, your in house IT department or an outsourced MSP can manage all devices remotely. Any and all devices whether Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), Company Owned Business Only (COBO), or Company Owned/Personally Enabled (COPE) should be made a part of the new MDM software. This is necessary for all devices to meet compliance and safety standards, therefore securing your networks even when people are working from home.
It is important to remember that although the company's security is vital, so is the privacy of your employees. This means that the proper balance between the two should be enacted when developing the chosen commands that you’ll send to the Application Programming Interface (API). Any IT admins can update or change the privacy settings to steer clear of any issues that may cause mistrust when the policy is put in place.
Consider some of these other practices when coming up with your own MDM policy:
MDM Best Practices/Benefits
1. Use secure WiFi networks and move away from USB devices
With the move to hybrid work, many people have been exploring the types of spaces they choose to work from. Often, this involves going somewhere other than the home or their normal workplace. With that comes the potential for public WiFi. Public WiFi is often unsecured and therefore ripe for the picking for any hackers that may be looking to take advantage of the lack of security in the network. Public Wi-Fi is a common loophole that hackers use to access company data. These types of networks can easily be the vector for malware and other nasty forms of hacking.
Likewise, USB devices also pose a high risk for distributing viruses to other devices. Thankfully due to the cloud based nature of MDM, your team can quickly and safely make the transition from USB devices, if you already haven’t. Training them on these security basics along with the MDM policy can really improve your overall security.
2. Frequently update devices
Hackers like things that are easy to break into, and when your devices are old, they have less protections than ones that have the most current system updates. Because technology becomes outdated pretty quickly these days, making sure your staff stays up to date on their devices will help make sure your security measures are as efficient as possible. When devices are running efficiently, they are less likely to be manipulated as a part of a hack.
3. Periodic Back-up of Files
Backing up your files is a key part of your data security mission, and that applies to mobile devices just as well. Making sure your employees send their data to a secure external source can help tremendously if recovery efforts need to be made. This is a habit that they should get used to, regardless of where they are working from. Accidental data loss can happen when you least expect it, but if your team is periodically performing safe backups, then the issue can be mitigated properly. This data can also be easily sent to the cloud where IT services can update it on a more regular basis.
4. Password Management
We have so many passcodes and passwords nowadays that it's sometimes hard to keep track of them all. That means we will try and do whatever we can to make that process easier, and mobile device creators know this. That’s why so many devices make it super easy to fill in that information, whether it be with your face or having the device remember them for future use. However, unsecure and old passwords can be easy for hackers to break before gaining access to your networks. Therefore, it is important that your employees take the necessary steps for protection including the use of Multifactor Authentication (MFA), creating complex passphrases, developing time limits for logins and initiating quarterly updates to any passcodes.
5. Guard against malicious data loss or theft
Creating classification for certain data can help keep the right information in the right hands and on a need to know basis. This prevents anyone from accidentally losing data in areas where they have little to know expertise as well as keeping the most confidential data in the most trusted hands. Likewise, monitoring how your team uses their devices in a transparent fashion can help establish data points in order to learn where your system may be the most vulnerable.
All of this can be done through proper training, and Kotman Technology has been at the forefront of managed IT services and staff security training for over 20 years. We know how to keep you and your employees safe from cyber attacks and the best practices for your business moving forward.
Kotman Technology has been delivering comprehensive technology solutions to clients in California and Michigan for nearly two decades. We pride ourselves on being the last technology partner you'll ever need. Contact us today to experience the Kotman Difference.