Mobile devices are a huge part of enterprise IT. Here's what to advise their users to do to keep their devices — and critical business data — best protected.

Security professionals often talk about the importance of enlisting users as allies in the battle for better security. When it comes to mobile security, that alliance must be a working reality rather than a managerial dream — namely because these handheld machines are typically employee-owned, thus placing their use and precise configuration out of the hands of enterprise IT.

Developing this partnership begins with convincing users they're an important part of business security. Depending on the industry, that could include training on regulations as they apply to mobile devices, education from cyber insurance companies, and presentations from intellectual property attorneys.

Once employees are on board, what specific actions should be encouraged? We went looking for best practices across the Internet, and eight kept showing up. It's important to note that only two of them require products or services that aren't included with most mobile devices. Two of the tips involve user behavior. And the other four are all about using features of the mobile device or operating system in the most secure manner possible.

We'd also like to know about your best practices. What actions or technologies not on this list are critical in your organization? Conversely, is there anything on our list you've found to be unnecessary? Let us know in the Comments section, below. After all, good communication about security is definitely a best practice.

(Image: bnenin via Adobe Stock)

About the Author(s)

Curtis Franklin, Principal Analyst, Omdia

Curtis Franklin Jr. is Principal Analyst at Omdia, focusing on enterprise security management. Previously, he was senior editor of Dark Reading, editor of Light Reading's Security Now, and executive editor, technology, at InformationWeek, where he was also executive producer of InformationWeek's online radio and podcast episodes

Curtis has been writing about technologies and products in computing and networking since the early 1980s. He has been on staff and contributed to technology-industry publications including BYTE, ComputerWorld, CEO, Enterprise Efficiency, ChannelWeb, Network Computing, InfoWorld, PCWorld, Dark Reading, and ITWorld.com on subjects ranging from mobile enterprise computing to enterprise security and wireless networking.

Curtis is the author of thousands of articles, the co-author of five books, and has been a frequent speaker at computer and networking industry conferences across North America and Europe. His most recent books, Cloud Computing: Technologies and Strategies of the Ubiquitous Data Center, and Securing the Cloud: Security Strategies for the Ubiquitous Data Center, with co-author Brian Chee, are published by Taylor and Francis.

When he's not writing, Curtis is a painter, photographer, cook, and multi-instrumentalist musician. He is active in running, amateur radio (KG4GWA), the MakerFX maker space in Orlando, FL, and is a certified Florida Master Naturalist.

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