Prevent Data Breaches Despite Lost or Stolen Devices

by Rachel Pickering

Protect your data and your reputation by learning about the best practices for securing mobile devices.

In today’s digital age, the use of mobile devices has become increasingly prevalent. However, with great convenience comes great risk — namely the risk of losing a device and the potential for data breaches that come as a result. Among the global organizations surveyed for a 2022 report from Verizon, 45% had experienced a mobile-related data breach, with 73% of those incidents described as “major.”

The trouble is that every individual device is itself a unique potential point of exposure, which makes locking them down – all of them – increasingly critical. Mobile-related breach attempts will only rise as use of mobile devices do, and unfortunately, that means more potential for those “major” incidents.

And because data breaches carry significant costs both in terms of money and reputation, it’s essential to understand the steps organizations can take to secure their devices and protect their data.

A missing device is a dangerous device

Especially for organizations with a shared-mobile strategy, mobile device loss is a serious problem, and one that all organizations must take steps to address. Smartphones, tablets, and other portable tech are all vulnerable to theft or loss, making them prime targets for criminals. Without the right tools in place, it can be nearly impossible to track stolen or lost devices — increasing the risk of data breaches. And the costs associated with data breaches can be significant. The global average cost of a data breach has risen to $4.45 million USD. That, plus the losses due to reputational damage, can be catastrophic.

The importance of securing mobile devices is further underscored by the fact that organizations — particularly in healthcare — rely heavily on these devices for day-to-day operations. Clinicians use them to access the EHR, update patient charts, prescribe medications, and much more. Those activities and data could be easily compromised if a device were stolen or lost without the proper safeguards in place. Furthermore, in the wrong hands, a mobile device can be used as an avenue for ransomware.

Best practices for securing mobile devices

When it comes to protecting mobile devices and preventing data breaches, organizations should implement proactive measures with tools that:

  • Enforce personalized passcodes to devices that are unique to each user
  • Require strong authentication at the application level
  • Enable multifactor authentication to access sensitive data
  • Monitor user activity
  • Support auditability of user access
  • Increase visibility into device and assignment status, connectivity, and whether a device has been returned (plus, when and where)

With these security measures, a lost or stolen device can be made impenetrable to unwanted intruders.

Keep your data safe with the right security tools

In the digital age, organizations must take steps to protect their mobile devices from malicious actors or accidental misuse. With the right security measures, organizations can protect their data and reputations while leveraging the workflow advantages of mobile tools.

When picking out a security strategy that best meets your requirements, don’t leave mobile security to chance.

Learn more about securing mobile devices by reading our whitepaper, “Solve both sides of the equation: Secure and frictionless shared mobile access”