9 Mobile Security Tips for Small Business
1) Create a Mobile Device Policy
A mobile device policy is the set of procedures and requirements your staff and employees must follow when using mobile technology for work or while accessing the company's network.
Mobile device policies can include requirements such as mandatory device registration, procedures for reporting lost or stolen devices, a list of permitted or banned applications, and more. While you do not need MDM software to create a mobile device policy, it is almost impossible to enforce your policies without it.
2) Set password requirements
Establishing strict password requirements for all devices on your network is one of the best things you can do to begin strengthening mobile security.
Require employees to create strong and unique passwords for each of their accounts. Passwords should be a minimum of 8 characters in length and use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid common words and require multi-factor authentication when possible.
Single Sign-On (SSO) solutions are worth considering to simplify password management for your end-user employees (they only need to remember one password) while maintaining strong password security.
3) Incorporate biometric features
While it's important to have strong passwords to limit who has access to information on mobile devices, add an extra layer to mobile security by requiring the use of biometric features. These features can drastically limit who has access to data.
The majority of mobile devices on the market have at least one biometric feature built-in. These include facial, voice, fingerprint, and signature recognition. In your mobile device policy, you can mandate the use of biometric features as a part of your mobile security practices.
4) Block Known Malicious Apps
Malicious applications may be deleted from Apple or Google's app store, but they remain on devices until they're manually removed by the user.
Using MDM software, you can proactively block known malicious applications on mobile devices across your network. When security patches become available for known vulnerabilities in applications, you can automatically push those updates to the mobile devices registered with your enterprise.
5) Encrypt ALL Mobile Devices
Encryption converts all of the stored data on a device into something only accessible with a specific authentication key, usually a password. You can also require employees to use a VPN (an encrypted network connection) when accessing the company's network remotely. These encrypted connections ensure data is safely and securely transmitted and also prevent unauthorized users from eavesdropping.
6) No Public Wi-Fi Accessibility
While the availability of public hotspots increases due to growth in remote work, it does not mean they are getting any more secure. All public Wi-Fi networks are prone to be compromised by hackers.
One of the best mobile security practices to incorporate into your mobile device policy is a ban on the use of public Wi-Fi networks. If your employees need to connect to Wi-Fi to conduct business on their mobile devices, a secure connection is needed to avoid malicious attacks.
7) Enable Remote Lock/Data Wipe
Enabling remote lock and data wipe on mobile devices is another beneficial security practice. In the case of loss or theft, using MDM software can lock the missing mobile device. If necessary, you can erase the data from the stolen mobile device.
8) Employee education
One of the best mobile security practices is continued employee education. Require employees to participate in cybersecurity training several times per year. Review your security policies, mobile device policies, password requirements, network accessibility procedures, the latest phishing attacks, malicious applications, and more.
The effectiveness of your mobile security isn't just about the tools, but how well you can educate employees too.
9) Budget for MDM solutions
Mobile devices are favored entry points for attackers because of the lack of attention businesses give to mobile security. With more companies employing a remote workforce, investing in strengthening your company's mobile device security is vital.
The proactive investment in both MDM software and cyber liability insurance is significantly less compared to the expenses associated with a security attack.
