With the constant change in technologies being used today, it is very difficult to secure your network and avoid cyberattacks and data breaches.
Technology is constantly evolving and with that comes more sophisticated cyberattacks and data breaches resulting in the need for greater network security.
In today’s hybrid work environment, many different devices are being connected to an organization’s network from a variety of locations. These include computers, tablets, and cell phones.
This makes it difficult to secure the network and devices because the network is so spread out and being accessed from so many different devices.
Coeo understands how important network security is and has delivered thousands of security solutions to organizations to help them improve network security and security over their endpoints.
By the end of this article, you will understand the best practices for organizations to secure mobile devices and which one is the best fit to improve security in your network.
Best practices to secure mobile devices in an organization’s networks
While many traditional security solutions and services focus on securing laptops and computers on the network, there is a need to secure other mobile devices on the network as well because the hybrid work environment has become so popular.
Mobile devices like cell phones are being used more frequently in the work environment with traditional landlines becoming obsolete making it critical for mobile devices to be secure on the network.
For this reason, it is important that you understand the available best practices your organization can use to secure mobile devices. These best practices include:
Authenticate user access
One of the most effective strategies to secure mobile devices is to authenticate user access to your network. There are a couple of different ways to authenticate mobile devices including:
PIN code authentication
A PIN code can authenticate authorized mobile devices on the network. Creating a PIN will prevent malicious actors from gaining access to your mobile devices and your network.
It may be a good idea for organizations to require an 8-digit passcode for mobile devices to ensure they are secure and compliant for the safety of all users on the network to avoid malicious actors and cyberattacks.
Multi-factor authentication
It is easier for organizations to secure mobile devices when they are in the office connected to the company's WIFI.
However, when the device leaves the office or disconnects from the company network and connects to other networks, it becomes susceptible to malicious actors.
These malicious actors will attempt to harm the organization’s network when the device is reconnected to the company network.
Multi-factor authentication requires a user to authenticate their device in two or more ways which can include SMS or phone call verification, PIN code, or email verification.
Multi-factor authentication enables your organization to confirm that the end user logging into the network is verified and who they say they are.
Incorporate data loss prevention policies
If there are mobile devices accessing your network and sensitive data without proper security, this sensitive data can be compromised if the mobile device is attacked while connected to another network.
Data loss prevention policies can help secure your data by not allowing mobile devices to download sensitive data that can be compromised. There are many data loss prevention policies and tools that can help your organization accomplish this.
Keep devices updated
Ensuring your mobile devices are updated will provide you with the most recent version of security. The most updated version of security will help you avoid cyberattacks and data breaches.
Mobile devices have been increasingly targeted by malicious actors because it is difficult to secure them. Therefore, updating your mobile device with the best security features is important to prevent malicious actors from gaining access to your network.
Mobile devices can be managed and monitored by your IT team or outsourced to a provider to automatically update these devices at a time when the devices typically are being used the least.
This helps ensure all mobile devices are updated to the most recent version of software resulting in the best possible security.
If you would like to speak with our team to learn more about network security or ask any questions you may have you can schedule an appointment.
Utilizing best practices to secure your mobile devices
Now you understand the best practices to secure mobile devices to help improve network security. This will enable you to incorporate these practices into your organization to improve your organization’s network security.
However, it is also important to determine whether these practices are the best alternatives to improve your organization’s network.
If your organization has many mobile devices that are connected to your network, it is a good idea to secure these devices to avoid network vulnerabilities and cyberattacks.
However, it may be difficult to secure these devices if your employees use their personal devices to perform their work activities.
If your organization operates in a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) network environment, your employees can connect their personal devices to the network. However, it is more difficult to secure them properly.
A BYOD environment will allow you to secure work apps and data without touching other personal data and applications on the phone.
On the other hand, if these mobile devices are company-owned, it is easier to enforce policies on these devices for better security.
Securing mobile devices in your network
Now you understand the best practices to secure mobile devices and whether these practices will benefit your organization. This will help you understand how to better secure mobile devices in your network to improve security and avoid cyberattacks.
Cyberattacks and data breaches are extremely disruptive to the operations and financial health of an organization.
They often cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair and in some cases cause permanent damage to the network while data breaches can result in sensitive data being stolen or corrupted.
For this reason, it is important for organizations to take network security seriously by enforcing policies and incorporating network security solutions and services.
Coeo understands how important network security is and has delivered security solutions and services to thousands of organizations to help them improve network security and avoid cyberattacks and data breaches.
We also want you to understand the best practices for securing mobile devices so you can broadly improve your network security.
If you would like to speak with our team to learn more about network security or ask any questions you may have you can schedule an appointment.
Now that you are aware of the best practices to secure mobile devices, read this article to learn how a network assessment tool can help you test your network performance and security and whether it can benefit your organization:
