How to keep your work phone out of pirates and crooks
With more and more employees working remotely or traveling for work, using a mobile phone for commercial purposes is more common than ever. In fact, many companies provide their employees mobile phones to help them stay connected and be more productive. But how sure it is to access the company's networks and projects via a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet? If you do not take the necessary measures, it can be catastrophic Data security of your business. In this article, we will discuss 6 basic advice for mobile security which will guarantee that all the precious information stored and accessible by your smartphone is safe from pirates and crooks.
Why is mobile security important for employees?
It is undeniable that using your mobile phone for work can be very practical. Verification of your emails during trips, the transfer of a document without having to light your laptop, etc., can simplify your daily life. However, the danger of data theft or a security violation is always present and may have serious consequences on the reputation of your business, the financial state and relations with customers. Often, it is not necessary to click on a link in a phishing email to allow cybercriminals to access sensitive information concerning the company or its customers. Consequently, any company that values its brand and the confidence of its customers must educate its workforce on some mobile security guidelines necessary to ensure security.
6 tips to guarantee mobile security for employees
1. Use strong passwords
The first and most important step in mobile security is to make sure you are the only person who can physically access your phone. Use a solid pin or password to unlock it (not 0000 or 1234) or, better still, use the biometric keys to your phone, such as the fingerprint scan. In the unlikely case where your phone is left unlocked and unattended, make sure that significant work or banking applications require a password to open. If you use a username and password, absorb to select the “Remember Me” option, because it only makes access to your accounts facilitate. Finally, don't forget to change your passwords every few months to secure them.
2. Use a VPN
VPN means Virtual Private Network, and is commonly used on computers and laptops. If you access the Internet via your smartphone, especially by using public Wi-Fi networks, you should certainly consider downloading it. This technology allows you to access the Internet safely by creating a barrier between your device and the Wi-Fi network, encrypting your information and protecting it from cyber attacks. In this way, if you visit a non-HTTPS website or any other site you are not sure, the VPN can protect you from attempts to flight or password. VPN software is often inexpensive, but the protection it offers is invaluable.
3. Be careful with unknown Wi-Fi networks
Everyone likes free Wi-Fi when you work outside the house, but what happens if the actual price you pay is your mobile safety? Public networks in cafes or hotels often lack encryption, which makes your information easily accessible to anyone with basic hacking skills. Before you realize it, everything you work on and the identification information you use to access important websites or applications can fall into the hands of people with malicious intention. Given the risk, it is certainly safer to use your 4G or 5G mobile network, which automatically encrypts the information. However, if you use low data data, use a VPN and only connect to Wi-Fi networks protected by password.
4. Keep your mobile phone up to date
Mobile telephone companies are well aware of the many threats that our devices meet each time they venture into the vast world web. Consequently, they regularly publish updates that improve their security features to combat new security gaps whose pirates can take advantage and respond to the latest malicious threats and software. To make sure that your phone is armed with these so-called “safety corrections”, you must regularly update your operating system and various applications to their latest versions. You can define these updates to occur automatically so that your device is always up to date with mobile safety standards.
5. Prepare for the worst
Despite your best efforts, physical threats could still take you off guard. You must be ready for the unfortunate event to steal your phone. This involves saving your data, including photos, documents and other important information. In this way, if you lose access to your device, you can restore your files. In addition, you must be able to follow your stolen device or, if it is not possible, locate access to it remotely and / or erase its data. In this way, your sensitive personal or professional information remains secure, even if you cannot recover your device. Make sure you activate these functions in advance so that if something happens, you can immediately connect to your account from another device and protect your information.
6. Be careful
It is good to take precautions to ensure mobile security, such as using passwords, installation of VPN and backup of your data. However, the best case is that you don't need them, as you pay attention when you use your phone to access the Internet. Of course, this does not mean becoming paranoid on each email and website, and ultimately avoid using your phone for something important. Instead, you just have to keep an eye on suspicious behavior, emails from unknown shippers, contextual click windows and downloads from unworthy sources. In this way, you can take advantage of the advantages of mobile use without being the victim of its potential dangers.
Secure mobile use for remote employees
When employees work more often outside the office than on the spot, it could be difficult to monitor the safety of their use of their mobile phone. To strengthen your business against external threats as much as possible, it is essential that you instill your distant workforce A mobile security mentality that he will follow without needing someone to look over his shoulder. Head them to resources on what can happen when they leave their unprotected devices and organize courses on online security. In addition, you can use a mobile peripheral management tool (MDM), which allows you to ensure remotely that smartphones given to employees comply with the latest safety standards and are therefore secure.
Conclusion
While remote work becomes more popular and employees are using their phone more and more to perform work -related tasks, mobile security becomes more important than ever. If employees do not know how to keep their mobile devices in safety, their companies could undergo serious consequences. In this article, we discussed some essential advice on the safeguarding of smartphones and tablets against cyber attacks, that each company must urge their workforce to adopt.
