When an employee misplaces or has a corporate smart device stolen, your organization faces a major and impending danger; hence this incident should be handled as a top priority. The data on that device may expose you to a breach, data privacy compliance issues, or much worse.
Tablets, phones, and laptops increase productivity, but they also increasingly contain sensitive data, putting your company in danger of a data breach if they fall into the hands of cybercriminals. Endpoints in an organization are frequently utilized as a doorway for a cyberattack.Â
Statistics show that many data breaches may be traced back to a misplaced or stolen work device. A tablet or laptop may not appear to be the starting point for a cyberattack, but consider the passwords and network information saved on every device that connects to your network.
It’s hardly a leap to imply that a company-issued tablet can pose an experiential danger to a small business. Embedding a worst-case scenario strategy in the event of device theft or loss may save you time, costs, and a sustainable future for your company.
Furthermore, taking the necessary protective steps decreases the chances of having an attack on your network.
Protective Steps to Prevent a Network BreachÂ
Below are some of the necessary steps you need to take should the worst happen:
Immediately contact the IT department for remote measures
Business executives must not be afraid to speak with IT support staff and perform any remote activities mandated by business policies in such times. This might imply different things to different people in different situations. A remote wipe that eliminates all data is typically a good idea for devices purchased by the company and used nearly wholly for commercial reasons. However, when it comes to BYOD policies, this technique is not received well, especially if the process involves erasing personal data. Employees can get frustrated, even if they consented to it earlier. A remote lockout may be preferable for BYOD difficulties. For first-level protection, devices should always have a mandatory lock screen.
Disable app and cloud logins
You are not safe if any sensitive business data can be read just by having the right app on any device and an internet connection. The most straightforward approach for handling this is to keep meticulous records of all staff login details for all essential accounts and bar individual logins when a device is reported missing. This isn’t perfect, but it will save you time, especially if the login can be located by skimming through a few work emails.
Employ data management to determine what business data is stored on the device
Another area where corporate policy is critical is: knowing what data is saved on the physical device in its hard drive. Because this data is the most susceptible, you must understand what may be accessed. Prepare for what will happen if this info is disclosed to hackers all across the Internet – preparing for what may and can occur is probably best, don’t you think?
Simply refusing to store corporate data on mobile devices such as phones or laptops is the best answer. For greater security, make valuable data available only through a link to enterprise servers. However, keep in mind that customer contact lists and other kinds of data may still be compromised. It is better to be proactive in this situation; if the worst happens, be prepared to promptly alert consumers that some of their contact information may have been compromised.
Search for data compromises
This is identical to the previous step; however, it is done online. IT professionals can trace how and where company server data was read using the correct data management system and internet applications. It is critical to monitor any unusual access as soon as a device is reported missing. This allows you to observe a break-in into corporate data as staff look for lost or stolen devices.
If you’re not sure if your company can trace file access in this manner, it’s crucial to meet with IT and go through security measures like these well before a device goes missing. Most data management and server solutions now possess security features like this, but to use them properly, you must be aware of them.
Provide new secure data access and instructions to employees
Develop a strategy to provide the employee with new access and logins (as well as devices) to perform their job and maintain work output rate. Many gadgets get misplaced on business travels when employees want digital connectivity to complete their tasks. Don’t forget this while trying to stay on top of the situation!
Revise company policies to avoid future issues
Perform an analysis on the issue to see what went wrong and how it might be prevented in the future. Employee negligence is frequently a significant reason in this circumstance, indicating that a greater focus on cybersecurity training and education on how to secure data in the workplace is needed.
A stolen work device can induce such inconvenience, but it does not have to be a tragedy for your company. You’ll be able to respond fast and decisively if you have a strategy in place for the worst-case situation. Essentially, ensure that all devices are adequately backed up before any event.
Book A Consultation with Cloudavize for The Best Strategy for Misplaced Work Devices Today!
Did reading about these steps get you nervous? Are you assured that your company is prepared for data breaches like this?Â
Cloudavize can help you get ready for this scenario! To learn more, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here or call (469) 250-1667.