Everything You Need to Know about Device Management in Your Business

The majority of Canadians own a smartphone: Over 70% of the population, in fact. This technology has been integrated into businesses as well, with many companies creating Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies for their employees. With smartphones and mobile apps becoming more and more crucial to SMBs every day, businesses must find ways to efficiently and securely integrate these mobile devices into their employees’ day-to-day work.

Why is Device Management So Important?

Data breaches and cybercrime are common occurrences in the world of business. If done improperly, device integration could lead to a major uptick in cyber breaches; imagine an employee losing a company-issued smartphone without a passcode lock on it. Anyone could pick it up and view, edit, or delete important business data and information. By bringing in a proper device management policy, you can make your data more accessible and streamlined, while still keeping it secure.

Everything You Need to Know about Device Management

Personal vs. Company Devices

The first consideration you need to make is whether the devices are company-issued or personal. While many businesses have implemented a BYOD (bring your own device) policy, allowing employees to use their personal devices for work-related reasons, others have given their employees company-issued devices.

There are benefits and downsides to both options. While BYOD is less costly for your business, it’s less secure and more challenging for the business to monitor. On the other hand, company-issued devices are more secure and typically more reliable, but come with a bigger price tag. 

When it comes to device management, it’s easier to implement a dependable policy for company devices. While creating a management policy for personal devices is possible, it requires stricter rules and closer monitoring.

Ensuring Devices Are Properly Secured and Monitored

Whether you choose to use personal or company devices, you’ll have to come up with a management policy that keeps your data secure and allows for easy device monitoring. This entails creating rules and regulations for all devices containing company data.

Some basic, yet necessary regulations are:

Password/passcode protection.

If a device without a passcode is lost, someone can access it with the press of a button or swipe of a screen. This doesn’t just apply to unlocking a phone or tablet – make sure your employees have solid, hard-to-guess passwords on all of their accounts. Multi-factor authentication is one way to promote security in your business.

Whitelisted/blacklisted apps.

For company devices, this could apply full-time, while personal devices may only be monitored for this on work hours. There are some apps you don’t want your employees on while at work, whether it’s video games or social media. Clearly outline which applications are and aren’t allowed to be used, and at what times these regulations apply.

Information on how and when monitoring will occur. Create a plan for how you’ll monitor these devices, and how often it will happen.

Setting Up New Devices

It’s almost inevitable that you’ll have to bring in a new device at some point. With a new employee, make sure to guide them through your device management policy and get them set up with necessary applications.

Remember to create backups for all devices. If a device is broken or lost, you’ll be able to recover the information on it without a hassle.

Need Help with IT Management?

Alt-Tech is here to help. Our top-quality IT management and cybersecurity services keep your data streamlined and secure, so you can focus on what’s really important: running your business. Contact us to discuss what our services can do to help your business.

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