How Australian Businesses Can Secure a Mobile Workforce Beyond the Office

Today’s Australian businesses are no longer stuck in the office. Employees work from home, travel between client sites and access corporate systems while on the move. While this flexibility can boost productivity and customer service, it also poses new challenges for safeguarding business data and controlling company devices.

With a well-planned approach to enterprise mobility, organisations can facilitate flexible working without sacrificing security, compliance or operational efficiency.

How to manage devices without compromising security

Smartphones, tablets and laptops are now vital business tools, and each connected device can pose a potential security risk. Sensitive information can be vulnerable to cybercriminals due to lost phones, outdated operating systems, unsecured Wi-Fi networks and unauthorised applications.

Mobile device management (MDM) can be used to mitigate these risks by providing a centralized platform for managing, monitoring and securing mobile devices. Administrators can set screen locks, encryption requirements, operating system updates and authentication policies for an organisation’s mobile fleet.

In the event of a lost or stolen device, IT personnel can remotely lock the device, revoke access credentials or delete corporate data as appropriate. These controls minimize the risk of confidential information being placed in the wrong hands while enabling employees to use approved devices for their work.

Securing Business Data at Multiple Sites

Securing the hardware is not enough for mobile security. Businesses also need to manage access, storage, transfer and sharing of information.

Access policies can limit access to sensitive systems to authorised users and compliant devices, and multi-factor authentication can add another layer of protection against compromised passwords. Organisations can also distinguish between business data and personal data on employee-owned devices, ensuring privacy and safeguarding corporate assets.

These protections should be part of a larger cybersecurity plan for Australian organisations that store customer data, financial information or other sensitive information. As businesses evolve, so do their workforces and technology, and clear access controls, regular security reviews, and appropriate incident response procedures help manage risks.

Application Management and Remote Access

Employees use various applications to communicate with each other, to manage projects and to access company resources. The lack of central control can lead to a mix of software versions and unauthorized applications, which can leave security vulnerabilities and drive up support requests.

Application management enables IT administrators to deploy approved software, set up parameters, track compliance and revoke access if an employee moves to a different role or leaves the company. Application updates also help to fix known vulnerabilities.

Secure remote access is also crucial. Authorised employees can access business systems using virtual private networks, identity-based access controls and secure application gateways, which can help prevent unnecessary exposure of internal resources. These, in conjunction with device management, offer more visibility into how mobile workers access corporate information.

Increase productivity and simplify IT

Mobility management isn’t just about thwarting cyberattacks. It can also help to streamline administrative tasks and enhance the employee experience.

Centralised configuration enables IT teams to deploy devices with standard settings, install required applications and apply security policies without having to deal with each device individually. Many technical issues can be addressed remotely, minimizing downtime and support expenses.

Staff have access to the tools and information they need, and managers have a more uniform way of allocating devices, maintaining and monitoring them, and securing them.

Creating a Sustainable Mobile Strategy

Businesses require a balance between accessibility, privacy and control as flexible working becomes a permanent fixture in many Australian workplaces. Organisations can achieve that balance with a comprehensive enterprise mobility strategy that includes centralised device management, secure access, application controls and consistent policies.

The most effective strategy is to use appropriate technology and provide training, responsibilities and periodic reviews for employees. Australian organisations can ensure a productive workforce and the security of the information and systems that underpin their operations by making mobile security a continuous business concern, not a single IT project.