Last updated on Feb 24, 2024

How can you ensure that your EMM security policies are flexible enough for the mobile landscape?

The mobile landscape is constantly evolving, with new devices, apps, and threats emerging every day. To protect your enterprise data and resources, you need to have effective and flexible enterprise mobility management (EMM) security policies in place. EMM security policies are the rules and settings that define how your mobile devices and apps can access, store, and share your enterprise data. They also help you enforce compliance, prevent data breaches, and mitigate risks. But how can you ensure that your EMM security policies are flexible enough to adapt to the changing mobile landscape, without compromising security or user experience? Here are some tips to help you design and implement flexible EMM security policies.

1 Assess your needs

Before you create or update your EMM security policies, you need to assess your enterprise mobility needs and goals. What are the types and levels of data that your mobile devices and apps handle? Who are the users and roles that need access to them? What are the devices and platforms that they use? What are the security risks and challenges that you face? What are the regulatory and industry standards that you need to comply with? By answering these questions, you can identify your EMM security requirements and priorities, and tailor your policies accordingly.

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Ayodeji Jaiyeola CCISO, CISM®

Cyber Security Manager
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Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) systems are a common way of managing mobile devices in the enterprise. My first take will be to understand the end goal from the start. This drives further conversations and engagements. Ability to tweek and review policies will be considered as a plus. The ever dynamic state of mobile systems requires a consistent focus and review.

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Festus Oriaku

Cyber Security Architect || Threat Hunter || Security+ || CEH || CTIA || ITIL || CC || CAP || CNSP || C3SA || QCS || CTM || 8x Microsoft Certified || 2x ISO/IEC || Application Security Engineer
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This involves evaluating the current mobile landscape, including the types of devices and operating systems being used, as well as the applications and data being accessed. Additionally, consider the security threats and vulnerabilities that are specific to mobile devices and applications. Based on this assessment, update your EMM security policies to ensure they are flexible enough to accommodate new devices, operating systems, and security threats. Regularly review and update your policies to ensure they remain effective in protecting your organization's mobile environment.

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Samir Elabed

Cyber Resillience Advocate | HND Computing | Certified Cybersecurity (ISC)2️⃣ | AZ-900 | SC-900 | Helpline Responder
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Trust No One (at first): Start with "Zero-Trust," giving minimal access and increase user privileges only as needed. This is like starting new employees with limited network access and granting more over time. Accommodate Different Devices: Support BYOD by securely handling iOS, Android, etc. Containerization is great for this Think Like a Spy: Adjust security based on where devices are, if they're hacked, etc. It's like limiting access for someone logging in from a foreign country. Train Your Users: Teach employees why good security habits matter. This is like the IT version of fire safety drills, making security practices routine knowledge.

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2 Choose your approach

Depending on your needs and goals, you can choose different approaches to manage your mobile devices and apps. For example, you can use device management, which applies security policies to the entire device, or app management, which applies security policies to specific apps. You can also use containerization, which separates enterprise data from personal data on the device, or virtualization, which delivers enterprise data and apps from a remote server. Each approach has its pros and cons, and you need to weigh them carefully to find the best fit for your enterprise mobility strategy.

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3 Balance security and usability

One of the key challenges of designing flexible EMM security policies is to balance security and usability. You want to protect your enterprise data and resources from unauthorized access, loss, or theft, but you also want to provide a smooth and productive user experience for your mobile workforce. To achieve this balance, you need to consider factors such as authentication, encryption, data wiping, device locking, app whitelisting, app updates, and device updates. You also need to communicate your policies clearly to your users, and educate them on the best practices and benefits of following them.

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4 Monitor and update

Finally, you need to monitor and update your EMM security policies regularly, to keep up with the changing mobile landscape. You need to track the performance, usage, and compliance of your mobile devices and apps, and identify any issues or gaps that need to be addressed. You also need to review the feedback and suggestions from your users, and incorporate them into your policies if possible. Moreover, you need to stay updated on the latest trends, technologies, and threats in the mobile space, and adjust your policies accordingly.

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5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you ensure that your EMM security policies are flexible enough for the mobile landscape?

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2

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1 Assess your needs

2 Choose your approach

3 Balance security and usability

4 Monitor and update

5 Here’s what else to consider

Information Security

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How can you ensure that your EMM security policies are flexible enough for the mobile landscape?

1

2

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5

1 Assess your needs

2 Choose your approach

3 Balance security and usability

4 Monitor and update

5 Here’s what else to consider

Information Security

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