Securing Enterprise Systems in BYOD Era
July 23, 2015
By
Michelle Amodio, TMCnet Contributor
As mobile devices flood the market and bring your own device (BYOD) becomes increasingly popular in the workplace, securing enterprise systems is becoming quite topical. Businesses benefit in security by way of allowing the use of approved and authorized apps, as noted in a blog by software licensing experts, Flexera Software.
What can companies do to help mitigate risks even further? According to Flexera, it’s about protected app stores and ascertaining applications that align with corporate policy.
Basically, instead of focusing solely on securing the device itself, emphasis should be placed on securing the enterprise. It really is as simple as shifting the focus; instead of locking down devices, enterprise management can go a long way for not only the enterprise, but the mobile workforce behind the enterprise. The approach is simple: IT managers develop a frame for their security needs and then the mobile security part will follow.
It behooves organizations to develop a strategy that will offer employees capable devices, apps, and services, and allow information to flow freely so that employees can easily access it. Providing the ability and flexibility to adapt to individual needs produces good long-term results, and it can be done if a company focuses on the bigger picture and not just the gadgets that make up the landscape.
According to Flexera, corporations need to identify applications and ensure that approved apps are compatible with the system. Planning ahead, for example, considering hardware devices versus software integration and looking for conflicts between the two, are all part of the readiness steps.
Policies and procedures need to be planned ahead for personal devices being used to send, receive, and compose corporate information. This in particular needs to be managed to effectively manage the software licenses that are downloaded onto those devices.
Mobile enterprise management offers real-time visibility into hardware, software, configuration, and location data so businesses can manage assets more efficiently and securely, most especially in a time where BYOD is becoming the norm.
Edited by Maurice Nagle