08 May 2024
VimalRaj Sampathkumar, technical head - UK & Ireland, ManageEngine
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, mobile devices have become indispensable tools. That’s particularly true in the workplace, with employees even relying on their mobile devices to access apps such as WhatsApp to communicate about work.
For IT teams, keeping track of these devices and everything on them poses a cybersecurity challenge. And businesses that follow a bring your own device (BYOD) policy, where employees can access private work data and channels from their own devices, are especially vulnerable.
In this new mobile-centric world, the importance of mobile device management (MDM) solutions, from a workplace perspective, cannot be emphasised enough. These solutions are the first line of defence when it comes to ensuring mobile devices are secure and properly supported.
Implementing an MDM solution not only assists IT and security teams in enhancing security but also streamlines device management processes, boosts productivity, and ensures compliance with company policies and regulations. Some of the advantages of having an MDM solution include effectively achieving surface-level compliance and enabling remote wipe and lock. Here are three key steps to fortifying your organisation’s MDM strategy:
Remote cyber monitoring
Ensuring the implementation of optimal practices and security measures for remote connections is crucial. Inadequate remote access security may enable cybercriminals to infiltrate privileged systems, leading to the potential for data breaches. By contrast, a robust secure remote access solution integrates essential tools and best practices to guarantee comprehensive cybersecurity and remote access security measures. This ensures that corporate data is not copied and accessed in an unmanaged or untrusted application.
As employees access company servers daily from various uncontrolled networks — such as cafes and co-working spaces — implementing robust security measures is imperative to protect sensitive company information. IT teams must find the right balance between giving employees privacy while controlling who can do what with their apps. Setting up strong security measures, including enforcing secure authentication, managing app permissions, monitoring device compliance, detecting unauthorized devices, and applying data loss prevention policies, will help boost your cybersecurity strategy.
Employee training as a preventive measure against cyberattacks
While employees are often seen as weak spots in cybersecurity, they can also play a big role in shaping a security-focused mindset. IT teams are vital in teaching employees to spot and handle cyberthreats effectively. An increasing number of organisations are providing comprehensive training and support to their employees, with some even sending fake phishing emails to their employees to monitor the responses. It’s also important to make sure employees keep their devices fully up to date and educate them on how this can prevent malware and other attacks.
Fostering a culture of vigilance and continuous learning will empower your employees to become proactive defenders against cyberthreats, creating a stronger overall security posture within the company.
The importance of endpoint protection
To enhance security, IT teams need to focus on protecting the increasing number of devices connecting to their networks. These devices are vulnerable to attacks that can compromise security through unauthorised access.
Laptops, phones, tablets, and other endpoints frequently encounter unknown data channels when connected to a corporate network. But the risks extend beyond just the devices themselves. Using public WiFi to temporarily install apps on a phone can lead to serious consequences, potentially triggering phishing attacks or introducing malware or spyware onto the device. A single unsecured network connection is all it takes for a hacker to exploit a device’s vulnerabilities.
Once compromised, these endpoints serve as easy vectors for launching attacks on the corporate network, underscoring the importance for organisations to adopt unified endpoint management practices. Organizations can implement policies such as geofencing (enabling/disabling features like microphones and cameras in certain locations), app control (allowing/disallowing apps to be installed), and kiosk modes to increase their security posture.
Safeguarding your organisation against cyberthreats in today’s mobile-centric world requires a multi-faceted approach. By prioritising security across devices and networks, and by empowering employees with the knowledge and tools to combat cyber risks effectively, organisations can navigate the modern workplace landscape with confidence and resilience.
