Tips to help keep your mobile devices safe.
Mobile technology has become a crucial aspect of modern business, as a significant amount of our data is now stored on tablets and smartphones. These devices are now on par with traditional computers in terms of power. Given their frequent use outside the office and home, they require even more protection than desktop equipment.
To help in maintaining the security of your mobile devices and the data stored on them, here are five tips:
Tip 1: Enable password protection
Having a pin, password, finger print or facial scan will prevent the average criminal from gaining access to your mobile device.
Tip 2: Make sure you can track your devices
Due to the portable nature of mobile devices, this makes it much easier to have them stolen or lose them. Luckily, there are many tools available to help if your device is lost or stolen. These tools can;
- Track the location of the device
- Remotely lock the device
- Remotely erase the data
- Retrieve backups of the data
For more information check out our Mobile Device Security Guidance.
Tip 3: Keep your devices up to date
It is important to keep your devices updated. Major manufacturers like Windows, Android, and iOS regularly issue updates that include important security patches to protect devices. Updating is a simple, quick, and cost-free process; ideally, devices should be set to update automatically. Ensure your staff understand the importance of these updates and provide guidance on how to perform them, if needed. Eventually, these updates will no longer be applicable when the device's support period ends. At this point you should consider upgrading your device.
Tip 4: Make sure apps are up to date
Similar to keeping the operating systems on your devices up-to-date, it is important to regularly update all applications with security patches. These updates not only introduce new features but also address any security vulnerabilities that may have been found. Ensure that your staff are informed when updates are available, knows how to install them, and understands the importance of doing so promptly. You can also enable auto updates to make sure that no updates are missed.
Tip 5: Avoid using public Wi-Fi hotspots
When using public Wi-Fi hotspots like those found in hotels or coffee shops, it's difficult to known who the hotspot belongs to. Connecting to these hotspots poses risks, as someone else could potentially access:
- What you are working on
- Your login details stored by various apps and online services while you're logged in
To stay safe, it's best to avoid connecting to unknown hotspots and use your mobile 4G or 5G network instead. This network has built in security features. You can also use 'tethering' to share your mobile connection with other devices like laptops or use a wireless dongle from your mobile provider. Additionally, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) can be used to encrypt your data before sending it over the Internet. When using third-party VPNs, ensure you have the technical knowledge to set it up and only trust VPNs from reputable providers.