How to Ensure Mobile Device Security with an MDM Solution?
Due to technological advancement and fast-paced, ever-evolving business trends, most corporate sectors have rapidly adopted digital and online services. Businesses have run from large traditional PCs to mobile and smart devices, which are easy to carry anywhere and ensure availability where the user goes. Similarly, cyber-attacks have also massively increased due to a need for more awareness and adequate security measures. These attacks can be the prime reasons for the downfall of various large companies worldwide. So, mobile device security is a serious challenge that enterprises can now easily manage through MDM solutions offering smart and efficient remote monitoring and control features.
What are the risks of mobile device security?
There are several risks to mobile device security due to the involvement of large-scale devices. Some significant risks include:
- Data Leakage. Unlimited access to the internet also increases the risk of data breaches when employees are given unlimited access to it. They might open a malicious website or a link on social media, which can result in unauthorized access to the system. The hackers can then easily access the confidential documents and destroy the company's reputation.
- Lost or Stolen Devices. Field workers have to work hard and face different environments and conditions on the road. They might lose their official device somewhere while having lunch or traveling to meet clients. It might contain banking apps or client information, resulting in significant loss if breached.
- Malware and Viruses. Malware and viruses can easily enter the system and affect the files or overall functionality of the device. Being compromised by malware can result in operational downtime, which may prevent working for hours until the system is recovered. So, anti-viruses and other advanced tools are required to detect and prevent the entry of such vulnerabilities.
- Unsecured Wi-Fi and Network Attacks. Hackers abuse, exploit insecure insecure Wi-Fi and networks to gain unauthorized access to the system and exploit vulnerabilities to copy or add files. They can also change their credentials and control the system by gaining access. They can make financial transactions using the data and withdraw company funds, leading to significant reputational loss.
- Poor Password Hygiene. Poor or weak passwords are the primary reason for data breaches and mobile device security challenges. Hackers quickly recover weak passwords using brute force attacks. Weak or poor passwords include the user's nickname, mobile number, and all lowercase letters without any symbols.
- Excessive app permissions. Numerous mobile apps are available online whose target is to gain unauthorized access to user's devices. After downloading the apps, request permission to access the contacts and device media, including photos, videos, documents, and other files. Users typically do not focus on their object and quickly select allow access to start using the app. This major mistake will enable hackers to access and misuse the device.
How can you ensure security for mobile devices through AirDroid Business?
AirDroid Business is an Android device management system for corporations. It is an intelligent tool that helps enterprises at different business levels to seamlessly enroll large-scale Android devices and ensure remote monitoring from a centralized location. AirDroid Business is the ultimate solution to all the above mobile device security challenges for different organizations, as it offers various customization options and limitations to manage device security and overall control. Let's discuss how it provides high-end security for mobile devices:
1. Enable Security Policy for Enhanced Protection
- VPN Configuration: IT can enforce VPN configurations on devices remotely, such as a corporate VPN, to guarantee secure access and data transmission.
- Factory Reset Protection (FRP): After a factory reset, only a specified Google account can be used to activate the device, preventing misuse in case of loss or theft.
- Password Configuration: Enforce strong password policies, including upper and lowercase letters, numbers, numbers, and symbols to ensure authorized access.
- App Blocklist/Allowlist: Set a blocklist/allowlist of apps to improve security and productivity by avoiding unnecessary app usage.
- Device Limitation: Limits like external USB connection, Wi-Fi connectivity or disconnection, file sharing, data usage limit, SIM settings, call whitelist, etc to meet various device needs.
2. Achieving Efficiency with Centralized Remote Management
- Bulk Device Enrollment: Offer multiple bulk device enrollment methods for enterprises where manual enrolment is time-consuming and not easily manageable, including Zero-Touch Enrollment, Android Enterprise(AE) Enrollment, Regular enrollment, and device owner(DO) enrollment.
- Remote Monitor and Control: Admins can remotely monitor device activities and other insights to ensure high productivity and optimized data consumption. The remote control feature helps to take necessary actions on unattended devices and resolve technical issues without location barriers. What's more, the privacy mode Black Screen Mode displays a dark screen on managed devices to ensure data protection during maintenance.
- Manage Authentication and Access: Provide strong member and role management, along with permission and security settings, to safeguard organizational data. Allocate roles and define device ownership to protect against data breaches and external cyber threats to your corporate network.
- Receive Timely Alerts: Offer more than 20 alerts, including cellular data usage, a kiosk on/off, battery level, temperature, and storage, so admins can take immediate actions and ensure the continuity of devices.
3. Streamlined and Secured Application Management
- Distribute and Update Applications Remotely: Help IT teams seamlessly distribute apps on managed devices and update them in a timely manner. Workflows help update apps when available. Scheduling app updates also saves time if set at night after working hours.
- Phased Releases and Testing Iterations: It offers test releases to ensure that only safe and compatible apps run on official devices. Formal releases save time when testing apps when they are already verified.
- Monitor and Track App Data Usage: Admins can remotely monitor and track app data usage to control excessive data usage and keep employees productive.
4. Leveraging Location Tracking for Enhanced Oversight
- Location and Path Tracking: The real-time location tracking feature helps track field employees' locations and recover lost devices. Admins can view the location history to check delays and improve services.
- Remote Lock and Data Wipe: Admins can remotely lock the device if it is detected in the wrong hands. In case of theft or loss, they can also remotely remove all the data from the device.
- Geo-fence Alerts: Geo-fencing helps to add geographical restrictions on devices, and admins are notified when any device enters or exits a restricted area.
5. Securing Devices with Kiosk Mode Lockdown
- Single and Multi-app Mode: Secure Android devices by enabling single-app or multi-app kiosk mode, thereby preventing misuse and controlling data expenses.
- Create Website Whitelists: Establish website whitelists to restrict access on your kiosk browser, minimizing employee distractions and safeguarding data on company-owned devices.
- Custom Layout: Tailor your logo, wallpaper, icon dimensions, and other aesthetic elements to achieve the precise visual branding desired.
Why Is Mobile Security Important?
Compromise on mobile security can result in multiple damages to the organization. Some significant impacts are highlighted here:
- Pervasive Use of Mobile Devices. Uncontrolled device access leads to employees' pervasive use of mobile devices, which are free to use with no limitations or boundaries. During working hours, users are interrupted and diverted by notifications and messages, which hinders focused work and ultimately results in decreased performance. Mobile security plays a significant role in ensuring a controlled working environment where employees can exclusively search for new things within a specific domain.
- Data protection. Effective and efficient mobile security protects against malicious attacks that target confidential information. Implementing mobile security measures like remote lockdown, wipe, continuous real-time monitoring, data encryption, strong password policies, and multi-factor authentication ensures data protection.
- Financial and production loss. Weak mobile security helps hackers exploit privacy and control corporate devices. As they gain access, they can easily hack all system files and settings and stop production quickly, affecting overall business performance and output. Unauthorized access to banking apps and credentials can help them perform transactions efficiently by bypassing security measures efficiently, leading to tremendous financial and reputational loss.
- Compliance and Legal Obligations. Mobile security plays a significant role in ensuring compliance. Customizable security and network policies are handy tools for complying with industry-specific standards governed by regulatory authorities. Data security is a top concern of regulatory authorities, so implementing strong mobile data security is crucial to ensure compliance.
- Loss of customer trust. Customers always trust well-reputed and older companies with positive reviews, and maintaining a business for the long term requires high data security. A company compromising or selling customer's data can never be in customers' good books. So, practical tools for mobile data security are crucial to maintaining a business reputation.
Conclusion
If you are running a company and want to progress and cope with everyday challenges, you need to consider an MDM solution compatible with your business devices. Most businesses use Android devices because they are flexible, cheaper, and available in different models with unique specifications. For Android devices, choosing AirDroid Business is the optimal option as it is highly scalable with improving company demands, so no additional software is required to manage the increasing number of devices. Moreover, its customization options for managing business policies and enforcing them on managed devices add extra security and comfort for businesses. Start a 14-day free trial for more enhanced tips for mobile security.