Learn the Four Dimensions of Laptop and Tablet Security

Unproductive downtime. Sensitive data loss. Damaging viruses. Exposure of valuable intellectual property. Loss of customer confidence. There are so many ways that mobile devices, networks and data can compromise your company. Yet mobility is critical to business productivity and success today. According to a survey in The Economist, workers who use mobile technology on the job say they are more productive, creative, satisfied and loyal.

Reaping the benefits of enterprise mobility while keeping mobile data, devices and networks safe takes more than just keeping track of mobile devices — it requires addressing mobile security in four dimensions.

Physical security: According to a 2017 survey, nearly one-third of U.S. businesses experienced a data breach in 2016, and 20 percent of those breaches involved lost or stolen mobile devices or storage media. Because employees’ mobile devices often contain sensitive corporate information, it’s important to keep careful track of them. The best way to avoid data breaches that result from lost or stolen devices is by utilizing mobile endpoint security and management software applications, which allow businesses to locate devices, reset passwords, and remotely lock them or erase company data.  As a mobile device technology partner, the Panasonic Toughbook ProServices Team can provide options best suited for your devices.

Device access security: Protecting devices from access by unauthorized users is critical to safeguarding corporate data. The most effective approach combines biometric authentication with at least one other form of authentication, such as a strong password. Biometric authentication ensures that a fingerprint or iris scanned by the device belongs to the authorized user. Managing multi-factor authentication requires sophisticated authentication software, and despite its success, only about 62 percent of larger corporations and 38 percent of smaller and mid-sized companies require it. In the future, we can expect to see wider adoption as it becomes more of an industry standard. 

Data security: Data is the lifeblood of every company, and protecting it should be always be a top priority. Today, the most effective way to protect data accessed by or residing on mobile devices is by encrypting it with AES-256 full device storage encryption using FIPS 140-2 certified algorithms. FIPS 140-2 is a federal government standard for cryptographic strength, while AES-256 is a strong key generation method that securely encrypts data and prevents unauthorized access to files. The penalty for failing to strongly encrypt private customer data or proprietary data can be stiff; if the data falls into the wrong hands, it can be costly. Recent estimates put financial losses due to mobile breaches in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Network security: According to the 2018 Verizon Mobile Security Index, less than half of enterprises encrypt the transmission of sensitive data across open, public networks. Surprisingly few take other important steps to ensure that data, email and other information that travels via a corporate network and mobile device over wireless connections are fully secure. Without comprehensive network security, companies are extremely vulnerable to everything from Denial of Service, unauthorized data access, spoofed emails and text messages, fraudulent WiFi access points and malware. At the very least, companies should encrypt all company-controlled WiFi networks, utilize WPA2 enterprise authentication, and enforce a policy on the use of public WiFi networks. Even better, consider implementing a VPN solution to all devices that access sensitive data over an unsecured network and/or create a private mobile network.

No single solution will ever be 100 percent effective, but adhering to this four-pronged approach to mobile security will go a long way toward ensuring peace of mind and productivity while protecting your company’s bottom line.

Learn more about how Panasonic ProServices can provide your team with security expertise and support.