Posted by SecExtra on January 29th, 2008

With 21st century office workers engaged in increasingly flexible working practices, extra measures must be taken to protect intellectual property and customers’ personal records.  Organisations must also re-assess how they approach and manage the security of mobile workers. The channel is equipped with the skills to educate businesses on security management and has the opportunity to take advantage of this burgeoning market.

* Many businesses underestimate the importance of securing mobile devices, oblivious to the potential security risks that these small devices bring.

* Handheld devices, being small in size, can be easily lost and stolen by thieves who are attracted by the desirability of the device.

* Most mobile workers don’t think about the security of their data when working remotely.  They often share computers at home, and are less vigilant with equipment while on the move.

* With data breaches consistently hitting news headlines it’s imperative that businesses take action now and invest in using more secure methods of data storage and transfer.

* Data breaches are mainly caused by lost laptops and unsecured CD’s or USB memory sticks and this seems to be an ongoing trend, most recently in the government sector.

* One ongoing issue with IT security is lack of education for the end users. This should be determined by the employer to ensure security outside the office is perceived to be of high importance by the mobile workforce.

* It’s all very well just providing lap tops to your mobile workforce and offering health and safety advice where necessary but it’s also important to think about the risk to the company.

* It’s important that the organisation implements strict protocols on securing company data, and that it also deploys the right resources to enable mobile workers to take those security measures on board.

* Password protection simply isn’t enough to ensure the safety of sensitive date, further measures must be taken.

* The channel should be actively advising organisations of the best way to shield users from mobile attacks as well as educating the market on the best ways of securing the growing number of business-critical mobile devices to help protect sensitive corporate data. There are a whole host of products on today’s market that the channel can offer:
# If there is a need to download confidential information it should be put onto an encrypted CD, this will protect confidential company data and customer information, and should be continually encouraged by the reseller as a viable solution for security

# Organisations can use biometrics to secure mobile workers data.  Fingerprint recognition is one of the best ways to secure USB devices – it ensures that if data falls into the hands of others information can’t be accessed.

# If employees have to leave laptops in their cars, measures need to be taken to secure equipment.  Opportunistic theft is an every day occurrence and laptops remain a target.

* The mobile working market has boomed over the last few years and, according to recent research, the number of staff now classified as mobile workers in UK SMEs has now reached around 50 per cent. (Source: silicon).

* Resellers need to be arming their customers with additional security products to support mobile workers in this growing market and one that shows no sign of decline.

For the channel to truly capitalise on the growing security market and stand out from the competition it’s time for them to think beyond IT.

Opinion from http://www.hypertec.co.uk