When surveying your workplace for security risks, mobile devices have to be among the most concerning. Hackers are working their way around traditional mobile data security, requiring organizations to step up their security planning.
Rethinking the approach to mobile data security should include strengthening best practices, such as backing up data more regularly. This can help lessen the impact of malware threats, which can wipe out data. To make sure yours isn’t permanently gone, backing up data as often as possible is the recommended route to take.
Placing restrictions on devices is also a go-to move for keeping your environment secure. For example, when workers bring their own devices, which they are doing in mass numbers today, many operating systems are now entering the network. As each device has different security, it’s imperative to make sure each one has the latest security protocols running. Restricting access to only those devices with secure operating systems can improve your mobile data security.
If you’re relying solely on mobile device management (MDM), you’re leaving yourself open for attack. To mitigate risk, bring in other solutions, such as data loss protection software, which can govern which users can gain access to your network. Furthermore, this software can add protections by requiring passwords for downloading various types of files in the system.
Another restriction to consider is who gets access to sensitive data. Rather than leaving everything open to anyone who can gain access to the system, utilize a use-case requirement on your critical data. For example, does anyone outside of marketing need access to your content management system? This keeps people out of areas where they don’t have the authorization to be, and it improves the integrity of your security protocols.
Antivirus software provides an extra layer of protection, boosting your mobile data security strategy. Updating it frequently must be part of the regular routine as cybercriminals are adept at getting around antiquated antivirus solutions.
Auditing your mobile data security strategy should also be a regular maintenance task. The environment is constantly evolving, which means you can’t settle on one strategy and revisit it once a year. It has to be audited regularly to find gaps, reveal vulnerabilities, and strengthen your position.
Finally, educating the workforce on today’s security risks can help ensure that human error becomes less of a security issue. Educating them increases awareness and can bolster best practices. Because many attacks occur via an employee on the inside clicking on links containing viruses, the awareness factor can significantly reduce risk.
For an agent that can connect you with the mobile data security technology you need, choose Clarksys. We’re helping our clients scale for tomorrow while providing the protections they need today.