The Mobile Workforce and Security

There is no question that the workforce is becoming more mobile. This ‘revolution’ is happening faster than anyone had expected. The idea that you could download a proposal in Starbucks before your next meeting or consult customer inventory levels remotely with a smartphone would have been unthinkable even a few years ago. Now it’s part of everyday business.

Thanks to the convergence of telecommunication and data communication, new work applications will rely on seamless wireless networking and your smartphone will be a key device for access and distribution. It’s no surprise that security is becoming increasingly important in how we access and deliver this information.

The dilemma becomes- how do you offer the features needed for the mobile workforce while maintaining security requirements of the enterprise? When we present our hereiam™ service to IT departments, we talk about security and how we handle information outside corporate walls. Our security features are important to the IT team who manages this.

We recommended in one of our blogs last July that companies have a mobile strategy including formal policies for mobile devices. You can’t ask users to abide by a security policy if you don’t have one. Here are some suggestions:

-Use a PIN to lock your phone. Don't use common passwords, like your favourite colour. Install antispyware on your phone to detect viruses, and don't open email, text messages, and video clips from people you don't know
-McAfee (an antivirus software provider) recommends that apps are downloaded from reputable stores, such as the Android Marketplace (hereiam™ is in Android Market as well as Blackberry App World and Apple App Store)
-Consider hiring a company specializing in security to monitor corporate and private devices. Companies like SOTI.net in Canada enable management of company devices from a single interface
-Many mobile phones and tablets make it possible for owners to lock device access and wipe data of lost phones (most smart phones support remote wipe). Make sure these are implemented

Ultimately, protecting corporate as well as personal data requires that employees be on guard. Applying these suggestions will help avoid some of the biggest threats on the road. With hereiam™, we’ve secured your information safely so that information stays with you and your company.