Dumb people + smartphones? How to keep company docs secure
August 18, 2009 by Sam NarisiPosted in: In this week's e-newsletter, Security, Solutions
IT puts a lot of energy into keeping documents secure in the office and on laptops. But do they leave security holes open when users take data home or on the road?
These days, problems often arise when employees use iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smartphones for work. One reason: Many users don’t understand that those devices are ripe with security risks.
About half of users believe surfing the Web on a smartphone is as safe or safer than using a computer, according to a recent survey by Trend Micro. Those users may or not have phones equipped with security software.
Also, a lot of folks fail to take even the most basic steps to keep smartphones secure — 40% don’t even bother password protecting their phone, according to a poll by Credant Technologies.
One-half of those who own a smartphone use it for both business and personal use, according to the Trend Micro survey. That’s where the biggest threats come from. One solution is to issue devices to employees who really need them. That way, IT can choose devices with the appropriate security features, like encryption and remote wipe.
Some IT departments also install software specifically for keeping documents on mobile devices safe — for example, Trend Micro’s Mobile Security, Credant’s Mobile Guardian and Trust Digital’s Enterprise Mobility Management.
The second key is training. Here are some tips to give users who regularly work on personal or company-owned devices:
- Treat the device like a wallet – Users would probably never leave a wallet or purse unattended — but a stolen smartphone can cause even bigger financial woes.
- Don’t sign on to unknown wireless networks – The iPhone and some other devices are able to use WiFi for faster Internet browsing. That can cause problems when users try to get on public networks — sometimes hackers set up bogus hotspots to steal data. At a public place, like a coffee shop or restaurant, users should ask for the name of the network.
- Disable WiFi and Bluetooth – When they aren’t being used, those features create unnecessarily security holes and should be turned off.
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Tags: BlackBerry, Credant, document security, iPhone, mobile devices, smartphones, Trend Micro, Trust Digital
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August 18th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
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