Summertime is here, and it’s the perfect time for us to remind you about mobile device safety when you travel.
Keep in mind that if your work or personal device is lost or stolen, confidential financial, HR or customer data could be compromised. Protect yourself from spoiling the vacay you deserve! Take a few precautionary steps BEFORE you go to make sure your device — and the company’s data — stays safe this summer.
Summertime Travel and Device Safety – Which Level of Protection Is Best for You?
Minimum protection for laptops:
Make sure your laptop requires a password to access its operating system. This is the minimum requirement for anyone who uses their device to email business associates or has to store data locally. Remember, this is minimal protection, so you still run the risk of getting burned.
Better protection:
Laptops: Encrypt the hard drive on your laptop. This will ensure that if the hard drive is removed, the data cannot be accessed. Microsoft’s BitLocker Drive Encryption software is available for Windows 8 Pro and Windows 7 Enterprise and Ultimate versions.
Phones & tablets: Configure your device to require a PIN to be entered after it has been idle for a period of time and/or every time you access the device.
USB drives & external hard drives: Don’t forget to protect these devices with password and data encryption protection, too!
BEST protection. MOST RECOMMENDED:
Does your device hold the secrets to the universe? Or maybe your company’s financial and employee information? No matter how sensitive the data, we believe it’s better to be safe than sorry. We recommend that all devices used to access company data incorporate this level of protection. Devices in use by company management should strongly consider this level of protection.
Laptops: Make sure the operating system is fully updated and patched on a regular basis. This ensures your are protected against the latest threats. Consider loading software on your laptop that can help you locate it or delete sensitive data remotely if it’s stolen. This will help you ensure your data isn’t compromised. We do not recommend using the locate feature to track down stolen equipment on your own. Call your local law enforcement immediately to deal with a theft scenario.
Phones & tablets: Make sure your mobile operating system is fully updated and patched on a regular basis. This ensures your are protected against the latest threats and have the latest security features. As with your laptop, make sure you know the process to remotely wipe your phone or tablet device if it’s lost or stolen. Do not try to find your stolen equipment on your own; contact your local law enforcement immediately.
As always, if you have any questions about computer safety, don’t hesitate to contact us.
We wish you a happy and SAFE summer season!