Mobile Device Management

The Security Benefits of Company Mobile Phones: Why Personal Devices Won’t Cut It. 

The way in which organisations operate has changed a lot in recent years.  

As an IT Managed services provider, we’ve helped many businesses adopt a flexible, remote working, approach.  

The move to a remote working environment comes with its advantages, for both the business and employee, however, this new way of working also comes with heightened security risks.  

You’re no longer having to ensure you “lock the windows and doors to your office”, but ensure your employees are doing the same in their own environments…wherever that may be! 

When shifting to a remote working environment, many organisations consider the risks of ‘company’ hardware such as PC’s and Laptops etc. They ensure these devices are locked to the company network, have the necessary security solutions like anti-spam, web filtering, and MFA etc.   

But what about the personal devices that people use at work, or for work, every day? What are the security risks? 

It’s common for employees to use their personal smartphones for work-related tasks, such as checking emails, accessing company data, and participating in conference calls.  

While this may seem convenient, it poses significant security risks for businesses. That’s why more and more companies are recognising the importance of providing designated company mobile phones to their employees.  

When it comes to protecting your business, and its data, there are several areas that an organisation should consider when they have a remote or hybrid-working staff? 

In this article, we’ll explore the security benefits of using company mobile phones instead of personal devices throughout an organisation. 

WHY SHOULD YOU BE THINKING ABOUT MOBILE DEVICE MANAGEMENT (MDM) & INTRODUCING COMPANY MOBILE PHONES?  

Enhanced Data Protection 

One of the primary concerns with using personal devices for work is the potential compromise of sensitive company data. Personal devices are often not equipped with the same level of security measures as company-issued mobile phones.   

By providing employees with dedicated company devices, you can enforce robust security protocols such as encryption, strong passcodes, and remote wipe capabilities. These measures significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised access and data breaches, protecting your valuable business information. 

Having company specific mobile phones also removes the risk of individuals losing sentimental ‘personal’ data, such as family photos, if a phone needs to be remotely wiped, for security, due to being lost or stolen.  

Separation of Personal and Professional Data 

Mixing personal and professional data on the same device creates a blurred line that can lead to data leakage and privacy concerns. Company mobile phones offer a clear separation between personal and professional data. Employees can use their personal devices for personal activities without jeopardising sensitive company information.  

This separation not only enhances security but also streamlines data management and compliance with data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

Mitigating Phishing and Malware Threats 

Phishing attacks and malware infections are rampant in today’s cyber landscape. Personal devices are often more vulnerable to these threats due to the lack of enterprise-grade security features and regular software updates. If an e-mail is received, on an unsecured ‘personal’ e-mail address, without enterprise class spam filtering, it could still infect the device and potentially grant access to company data. 

Company-issued mobile phones typically come with advanced security features, such as secure app stores, real-time threat detection, and automatic software updates. These measures significantly reduce the security risk of falling victim to phishing attacks and malware infections, safeguarding your business from potential financial and reputational damages. 

Centralised Device Management 

Managing a fleet of personal devices used for work purposes can be a daunting task. It becomes challenging to ensure that all devices are up to date with security patches and compliant with company policies. This can often be reliant on the user and out of the company’s control. 

Company mobile phones, on the other hand, can be centrally managed through mobile device management (MDM) solutions. MDM enables IT administrators to monitor and control the devices, enforce security policies, and remotely deploy software updates. This centralised management approach simplifies device administration and enhances security across the organisation. 

Protecting Intellectual Property and Trade Secrets 

For businesses that heavily rely on intellectual property and trade secrets, the protection of such assets is paramount.  

Company mobile phones provide an additional layer of security for safeguarding sensitive information. With features like data encryption, secure file sharing, and restricted access to certain applications, you can significantly reduce the risk of intellectual property theft or unauthorised disclosure. 

Accredited Security Frameworks 

For organisations that wish to work with government agencies, or large corporations, it’s likely that they’ll require your business to prove certain levels of security standards. Many of these standards will be encompassed in Security Frameworks such as ‘Cyber Essentials’.  

To qualify for frameworks, such as Cyber Essentials, an organisation would require the following elements:  

• All devices to be categorised by Operating System (OS), and version number, e.g., Android or IOS.  

• Only supported systems can be used. Any end-of-life (EOS) operating systems would result in failure to obtain the accreditation. 

• Any software, on a device associated with the organisation, needs to be approved.  

• Using personal devices can causes significant issues when discussing the parameters of what can and can’t be installed. 

• Devices cannot be “rooted” which is a popular “unlocking system” for Android phones. Only manufacturer builds can be installed. 
• Users are only allowed to access authorised app stores. 3rd Party options would be blocked. 
• All software must be supported by the manufacturer and regularly checked for updates and upgrades by IT/Technology management, or your IT support provider. 

Conclusion 

While using personal devices for work purposes may seem convenient, it introduces significant security risks to businesses.  

By providing designated company mobile phones to employees, you can enhance data protection, separate personal and professional data, mitigate phishing and malware threats, enable centralised device management, and protect intellectual property and trade secrets.  

Investing in company mobile phones is an investment in the security and long-term success of your business.  

Don’t compromise on security risks. Consider the risk to your business if your employees continue to access data through personal devices. 

How can we help? 

Shackleton Technologies can help your organisation ensure you have the right security measures in place. Our passion is to help organisations achieve their strategic goals through technology.  

We understand the need to remain safe, secure, and productive.  

GET IN TOUCH TODAY TO DISCUSS HOW MOBILE DEVICE MANAGEMENT THROUGH ‘COMPANY MOBILE DEVICES’ CAN ENHANCE YOUR ORGANISATIONS SECURITY AND PRODUCTIVITY. 

Enquiries@shacktech.co.uk 

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