There are a million reasons to consider Mobile Device Management. The world is a global environment, connected at all times through Wi-Fi and cellular data. We use this connectivity in our personal lives constantly. And the same is true for the business world.
The big difference, however, is that your business has all kinds of protected or proprietary information that – if leaked or misplaced – put your company at great risk of data loss, data corruption, compliance violations, and more.
The other big difference is that most small- or medium-sized businesses aren’t yet focused on managing how their staff access work remotely.
Here are the top 5 unsecure applications that employees use on a daily basis to get remote access (when their employer doesn’t provide it for them):
- Consumer Grade File Sync Solutions
Apps like Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive are rampant repeat offenders. And if they aren’t managed by your company, they pose high security risks. Business files are replicated into employees’ personal accounts and then all control over that data is lost.
- Cloud-Based Email
Your staff will either use a personal email account – likely Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc. – by forwarding themselves files or correspondence they need. Or, they will connect to their Outlook on their mobile devices, providing full, unprotected access.
- Project Management Tools
If you use a project management tool – like Asana, Mavenlink, Wrike, or many others – then your staff will most likely search and install the mobile application for that tool as well. This allows them to keep track of their to-dos when they’re away from the office. But it also exposes all proprietary project information to greater risk.
- Sales CRMs
Salesforce, ConnectWise, Insightly… there are tons of CRMs out there that can also be installed on mobile devices as a remote application. If this is not managed, all your client and prospect information is out there unprotected.
- Password Manager Applications
These can be the most dangerous, especially if you think you’re protecting your business through extensive password policies. But if your staff are making their lives easier through password manager applications like LastPass, Dashlane, Keypass, etc., they are exposing all password protected information to theft or loss.
It’s important to understand how your employees will access their work remotely, with or without your permission or guidance. And it’s equally as critical to see firsthand what kind of information will then be available to any hacker or individual given access to these mobile devices.
Mobile, remote access is happening whether you like it or not. Especially for millennials who are quickly becoming the vast majority of today’s workforce.
If you want to protect your business, you need to do these three things:
- Accept that mobile, remote access is happening within your business
- Research mobile device management solutions that will best fit your needs
- Implement and train said solution to keep your company protected
Not all mobile solutions offer the same protection or service and come at varying price points. Meaning… you can most certainly find the right MDM solution for your business. Don’t put this on the backburner. It’s at the forefront of your company’s security.