Mobile Phone Policy for Protecting Data and IP

Mobile Device Security Policy

A hand-held mobile device security policy is crucial for any company that values the protection of its intellectual property and confidential data (Zafar, 2017). In today's fast-paced business environment, employees are increasingly using their personal smart phones and tablets for work-related tasks, and it is essential that a comprehensive policy is in place to mitigate the risk of data breaches and loss of intellectual property. What follows is this company’s policy, which is applicable for both company-owned and employee-owned devices.

This policy prohibits of the use of unapproved apps, such as third-party cloud storage services, on company-owned devices. This is important because these apps may not have the same level of security as the apps approved by the company and may put sensitive information at risk. Additionally, the policy restricts the use of the camera and other functions, such as Bluetooth, on company-owned devices to prevent the unauthorized sharing of confidential information. The policy also calls for detailed instructions on how to properly secure a mobile device, including implementing a password policy for all mobile devices, regularly backing up data, and performing security updates on all mobile devices, which may be given in training courses.

The policy recommends including in training procedures for securing company's network and resources, including restricting access to only approved devices, and implementing remote wipe or device lock capabilities in case a device is lost or stolen. This is important to prevent unauthorized access to company's network and resources and to minimize the risk of data breaches.

For BYOD, the policy recommends that management take steps to reduce the risk of data breaches. These steps include encouraging employees to use secure communication apps for work-related messaging and calls, providing employees with a secure virtual private network (VPN) to access company's network and resources, and encouraging employees to use device encryption, and if possible providing encryption software for employee-owned devices. The policy also calls for detailed instructions on how to properly secure a personal device for work-related tasks, which should be covered in training.

The policy emphasizes the importance of having this training component for employees on how to identify and report security risks. Regular training must be provided to ensure that employees are aware of the risks associated with mobile device use and how to minimize them. This will help to create a culture of safety and security within the company and ensure that all employees are aware of their role in protecting sensitive information (Aldawood & Skinner, 2019).

To summarize, guidelines are for: prohibiting the use of unapproved apps, such as third-party cloud storage services, on company-owned devices; restricting the use of the camera and other functions, such as Bluetooth, on company-owned devices to prevent the unauthorized sharing of confidential information; implementing a password policy for all mobile devices, including a minimum length and complexity for passwords and regular updates; regularly backing up data and performing security updates on all mobile devices; restricting access to company's network and resources to only approved devices, and implementing remote wipe or device lock capabilities in case a device is lost or stolen; and encouraging employees to use secure communication apps for work-related messaging and calls. By implementing this policy, this company can ensure that its sensitive information remains secure and protected.