The challenge of Mobility and Enterprise Security

First it was laptop computers, now its tablets. The enterprise is getting more mobile and IT groups have to find ways to ensure security can keep up.

This mobile world has always brought challenges to the IT group. While IT worries about security and management of these mobile devices, the business is concerned with productivity and efficiency. The IT group is looking for methods to make sure security isn’t comprised while the business is looking for ways to make sure the travel schedules of its employees don’t compromise their productivity.

While the IT group’s focus and the business’ focus may seem completely opposite, they really aren’t. Most organizations have some form of security suite in place that helps manage mobile device security and which covers everything from physical security to data security via anti-theft technologies to managing enterprise security with mobility in mind.

To address security in the mobile world, multiple aspects of security must be considered. Everything from physical security to data security must be planned for and managed. This planning starts at the machine level with the right technologies to help manage and protect computers using technologies like Intel® vPro™ Technology, which adds chip-level security and management technology to computers. Additionally, using management software like Dell’s Management Console, which is closely integrated with Intel® vPro™ Technology, IT groups can implement even more secure and manageable mobile devices.

If a device is lost or stolen, the first line of defense against data theft and improper access is ensuring proper authentication procedures exist on the stolen device. These could be as simple as proper password processes or as complex as physical security devices that randomly select tokens for employees to use to login to the system. These types of systems are well known and well used…but there are other approaches that are less well known.

Dell provides multiple authentication options on their business class laptops using technology like their ControlVault technology for authentication, laser etching on systems for identification and management systems that provide options of remote data deletion if a machine is lost or stolen. These help IT groups ensure proper security is in place on mobile devices.

Being more mobile doesn’t have to mean less secure. On the contrary actually. The move to a more mobile world has forced IT, vendors and suppliers, to find new and unique methods of ensuring security is front-and-center on mobile devices. This allows IT groups to keep their focus on security and allows the business to keep their focus on allowing employees to get their job done regardless of where they are.

Mobility and Security can go hand-in-hand if approached with proper planning, the right management applications/systems and the right partners in place like Dell and Intel®. Having partners like Dell and Intel® allow organizations to ensure security protocols and systems are as embedded as far down into the systems as possible using technology’s like Intel® vPro™ Technology and Dell’s ControlVault technology.

This is a paid post in conjunction with IDG, Dell and Intel®.