If you like doing cybersecurity the hard way, stop reading this now. For everybody else, no need to bang your head on your keyboard–mobile device management (MDM) is here to save the day. Cape not included.
What is MDM in cybersecurity? Let’s be clear. It’s the get-you-compliant tool of tools. MDM is to cybersecurity what peanut butter is to jelly. Ok, we’re out of good metaphors today, but here are just a few reasons why MDM should be the first truck stop on your road trip to Cybersecurityland.
Wait, Remind Me What MDM Actually Is?
Sure. MDM is a cunning mishmash of policies, tech, software, and live humans that work together to secure and manage a collection of devices like smartphones, laptops, and tablets. It’s all controlled from a centralized dashboard. Some elements of MDM are automated (yay for saving time, reducing human error, and increasing capacity!) and some elements are manual, e.g., investigating weird stuff flagged up by the automated stuff.
Can MDM Help Me Achieve Some Kind of Regulatory Compliance Framework?
Short answer: yes.
Long answer: Oh yes.
Data security compliance is a powerful business asset disguised as boring words. Any business that wants to a) display trustworthiness, b) win contract beauty contests, c) trade in particular sectors, or d) gain the moral high ground will show its worth by working toward a cybersecurity acronym such as HIPAA, SOC 2, or PCI DSS. MDM plays a critical role in achieving any framework you choose. We’ve done the math for you because, if you’ve deployed our flavor of MDM, you’ve already nailed down:
- 28 SOC 2 controls
- 24 of CMMC controls and a further 9 optional controls
- 20 of PCI DSS controls
- 24% of HIPAA controls
If you want your compliance officer to gift you a chocolate donut with sprinkles every day for life, MDM is the way forward. Basically, buy MDM and get 1 trillion security measures free.
OK, Like, What Cybersecurity Measures, Then?
Hold your nose and take a deep breath, because we’re going in.
IT Asset Inventory: Know What You’ve Got
Without a robust IT asset inventory, no compliance framework will marry you. MDM gives you the magic of knowing which devices you have, where they are, who’s using them, and what for. It grabs and corrals your remote devices into one organized fleet and, like some freaky, leering puppetmaster, you control them from your shiny at-a-glance MDM dashboard. Your IT asset inventory AKA MDM dashboard is your ultimate cybersecurity measure because it gives you the superpower to deploy all those other cybersecurity measures.
Anti-Breach Tactics: Close Those Embarrassing Data Security Gaps
MDM is the biggest snitch ever. It will tell you which devices are naughty and which are nice, and not even in exchange for jail privileges. It’ll flag which devices are:
- Running out-of-date OS or ancient software.
- Accessing unsecured public wifi.
- Unencrypted.
- Missing antivirus or anti-ransomware software.
- Accessing unauthorized websites or downloading weird apps.
- Using so much RAM it makes you go, “Hmmm..”
Now that you know what’s wrong, you can take action to close those security gaps. But take your coat off, as you’re not going anywhere. Stay put on your sofa and use your MDM dashboard to perform mass security-tightening actions such as:
- Enforcing OS updates and security patches.
- Deploying automated disk and file encryption.
- Blocking access to dodgy wifi and unauthorized apps.
- Deploying web-filtering and DNS-filtering to block access to risky pop-ups and websites.
Anti-Theft Tactics: Remote Lock. Or Wipe. Or Both.
One of the principles of cybersecurity is accessibility, i.e., making sure that only authorized users get access to data. Unless you have a very libertarian security protocol, authorized users don’t usually include thieves. A laptop stolen from an auto or a smartphone swiped at Starbucks are very real risks to data security. Luckily, MDM chuckles in the face of thieves by giving you the option to remotely lock the device and/or wipe corporate data. The principle of least privilege was never so much fun.
Best Practice Password Management and Other Human Stuff.
Two of MDM’s most cheerily refreshing advantages is that it reduces human error and changes human behavior for the better.
Automation removes the need or requirement for human activity, i.e., mistakes. You’re looking at delicacies such as:
- Automated vulnerability scanning and patch deployment, which eliminates the risk of mistakes by busy IT admins.
- DNS filtering and web filtering to protect users who click before they think.
- Automated role-based permissions to prevent accidental data access or sharing.
MDM also polishes up human behavior by reducing choices, guiding people to make the correct choice, or making it so much easier to manage passwords. For instance, if you serve up MDM with a side-order of cloud single sign on, your people can access all the stuff they need with just a single password, rather than having a dozen different hacker-friendly passwords for all their cloud accounts. Your people also have to get used to actually updating their software because now they have no choice.
MDM in Cybersecurity Is a Thing and You Need It
Doing cybersecurity the hard way is conformist nonsense. But that and morbid curiosity are not the only reasons you may like to consider deploying MDM with your own fleet. MDM is a non-donkey-shaped piñata stuffed full of cybersecurity goodies, ready for you to beat the crap out of it. We’ll help you do it. Give us a call.
Ignition is Silicon Valley’s best (and friendliest) IT security, compliance, and support team. Call us now–chatting about IT support and cybersecurity is our favorite thing to do!