Regardless of the industry, your workforce is mobile. Employees might use the train to get to your office and catch up on email during travel time. Or, perhaps they are out in the field on a near daily basis and take notes through their smartphone while on-site. With 47% of employees working remotely in Canada, there is no doubt that your teams are reliant on mobile devices. Yet, with this reliance comes the need for Mobile Device Management. Ensuring that such devices cannot be compromised is essential for security of your business and privacy of your people.
Mobile Device Management can be daunting for some businesses, though our experience with companies from enterprise to small businesses will help make the transition simple and straightforward. That’s why we have collaborated to deliver our tips to manage mobile devices for your employees.
Here are 5 Mobile Device Management Tips For Your Business
1. Take time to identify your needs
Ask yourself, “what are the needs of my business?” If you have determined that you need Mobile Device Management, that’s great – though why do you require this solution? It could be because your employees are using various mobile devices, such as iPhones and Androids, and you need a solution to securely manage both. Or, it could be because you want to keep track of the long list of smart devices on the field. Whatever the case might be, determine what your needs are before you embark on managing mobile devices.
2. Be sure you have the ability to ‘lock it down’
Picture this: Your employee is on the aforementioned train and en route to work, when he is unexpectedly pick-pocketed. He doesn’t realize what has occurred until he is in the office and getting settled for the day. Without a Mobile Device Management plan, how would you safely and securely shut down access? You would be in a dire situation, knowing that data is at risk of being breached. Ensure your plan has the ability to “lock it down”.
3. Consider restricting mobile app categories
When your employee is remote or on a job site, there is no need to access certain apps, such as social media networks or personal email accounts. Managing smart phones in the field with a strong Mobile Device Management plan can ensure that only the apps necessary for work are included on employee devices. Spoiler alert: This will help increase productivity by a reported 13%.
4. Don’t forget reporting and analytics
With Mobile Device Management, you can collect data around what your employees are working on (like time spent on email or corporate apps, for example), so be sure to utilize reporting and analytics to your advantage. Consider a quarterly review on what your employees are working on when they are on mobile, and make decisions based on data.
5. Set clear policies and standards
Like any new program or implementation, your employees will need clear policies and sets of standards for mobile usage. This could include rules for accessing company information through their smartphone, procedures for passwords and access, as well as repercussions should an employee violate the policy. Setting and maintaining such policies will help management and employees feel more confident and secure in their remote work.
Creating a strong Mobile Device Management strategy and program will not only empower your employees to be more confident with their mobile usage, it will also allow for greater security around data and privacy. To learn more about how we can help empower your business, contact us here.