“With freedom comes great responsibility.”

The IT industry has seen an explosion in technological convergence of mobile device usage. No longer is a mobile phone just a phone or a laptop a mobile word processor. These devices and other mobile devices such as PDAs form the backbone of mobile communication and can now integrate seamlessly into corporate networks and in some cases are the sole communication and data devices used by company personnel to assist in their daily work functions.

Unfortunately with the freedom these devices allow with mobility of access to company assets, many Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) and large organizations still do not have effective controls and procedures to protect confidential information stored on these devices. To compound this issue, mobile devices are frequently stolen or mislaid by employees. The loss of data, such as confidential files and contact lists stored on the devices can be disastrous for an organization if the data gets into the “wrong hands” and is used for malicious purposes.

Although many companies do educate their employees on the usage of mobile devices in the workplace, it is imperative that companies are aware of the security issues that may arise with the usage of such devices. The requirement to adopt policies and implement specific measures to counteract the threats posed by the usage of mobile devices is compelling. Even if a policy is created and staff are effectively informed and trained in mobile usage, this is only the first step, as mechanisms to police compliance of policies and procedures should also be implemented.

• WCS Security Consulting services can assist you to develop and implement the appropriate policies and procedures for mobile devices.
• WCS Security Consulting services can assist you to design and implement the appropriate protection mechanisms for corporate mobile devices.