Article 3 Keys To a Successful Mobile Security Approach
By Insight Editor / 20 Feb 2019 / Topics: Mobility
While it is important to understand how bad actors operate and the inadequacy of some current approaches, you shouldn’t be intimidated into avoiding workplace mobility altogether. In an increasingly mobile world, bring your own device strategies can massively boost end-user productivity. A proper workplace mobility implementation with the right protection is in the best interests of your workforce.
Below are some keys to a successful mobile security implementation:
Key 1: Take a holistic security approach
The core value of any mobile security approach is the prevention of malicious hackers from accessing sensitive information. In this context, you must remember that personal devices serve as the point of access to your corporate resources, but should other weaknesses exist, they too can be exploited. When implementing mobile security, you must take a holistic approach that accounts for how the solution works with your existing security implementations to protect your environment from top to bottom: from the devices, through the operating system and software stack, to the public or private cloud. By doing so, you will be better equipped to eliminate any gaps in your security posture and ensure consistent protection.
Tip: Many businesses have implemented solutions from numerous vendors over time across their environment (i.e., a firewall from one vendor, intrusion detection and prevention systems from another vendor, anti-malware from a third, and so on). It is common for these solutions to not work well with one another. Additionally, some teams are not well-versed with operating each of the solutions. This, in turn, can limit visibility and the ability to monitor ongoing threats in your environment. Security vendors are beginning to respond by delivering holistic security platforms. Leveraging a more complete, integrated set of solutions like this can help simplify security management and enable greater control over your environment.
Key 2: Deliver a good user experience
Your end users want to access corporate applications and data in the most user-friendly way possible. At the same time, you have numerous security needs that may limit their experience: making sure only approved devices can gain access to the network; controlling what aspects of your network the device is connected to; verifying who is behind the device, etc. However, if you deliver a poor user experience, you may risk end-users working around your solutions or resisting the technology to a point that it is abandoned by the company altogether. With this in mind, it is in your best interest to find the right balance of stringent security measures and user-friendliness. This can be realized through a wide range of solutions (depending on your organizational needs), including single sign-on identity management tools or desktop and application streaming services that take into account securing sensitive data and ensuring end-user performance.
Tip: It is common for a company’s network team to be in charge of workplace mobility initiatives, while the security team manages its protection. In many cases, these groups aren’t in sync with one another and don’t collaborate to the extent they should. This can result in either limited remote performance or poor security. To ensure both stakeholders fulfill their needs, you should bridge any silos that separate these groups and ensure they have the means to collaborate throughout the project.
Key 3: Leverage an expert
If your team is understaffed or lacks security expertise, you should consider leveraging a security service provider. Service providers can help you navigate the marketplace to find a solution that fits your needs. Once you have chosen a solution, it is easier and more reliable to utilize this provider for implementation and/or managed services (depending on your personnel strengths), rather than increasing staff size or providing ongoing training.
Tip: Mobile security is not one-size-fits-all. Your business has unique needs that are driving the adoption of workplace mobility. When evaluating consultants, find a partner that will work with you to understand these needs and help you select a solution that compliments your business, your existing security approaches, and your personnel strengths.
Insight Mobile Security
Insight is a vendor-agnostic and customer-centric technology consulting organization with a breadth of knowledge across the IT landscape. By taking the time to understand your needs, while also leveraging knowledge on deploying and managing solutions, Insight will help you choose a mobile security solution that makes the most sense for your business.
