One Step Ahead |
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February 26, 2013,
Volume 59, No. 23 |
Another tip in a series provided by the Offices of Information Systems & Computing and Audit, Compliance & Privacy.
Mobile Device Security—3 Recommendations for Cloud Users
(Hint: That’s You!)
Thanks to the cloud, you can leverage sophisticated computing resources (like huge backup volumes, powerful document collaboration tools and unlimited email storage) over the internet with a click of a mouse. And because of inexpensive and ubiquitous mobile devices like smart phones and tablets, you can access many of these resources anytime, from anywhere. While it’s a huge leap forward for productivity, this combination also introduces new risks. Here are three recommendations of features to implement when combining “Cloud” and “Mobility” (note, only do these after you’ve backed up your device):
1. PIN or Password—At a minimum, require a four digit passcode to access your device. 80% of lost phones show signs of snooping by the person that found them—and not just the owner’s contacts, but files and emails too.
2. Passcode Lock—Automatically lock the device and require the PIN to be re-entered after 5 minutes of inactivity. (Make sure that your phone still allows you to make 911 calls when locked!)
3. Auto-wipe—After 10 failed passcode entries, the device should “wipe” (erase) all of the data it contains.
You can typically enable these features in the “settings” area of your phone. Of course, if you’re able to let Penn “manage” your device with ActiveSync, these features are automatically in place. Ask your Local Support Provider for more details about that service.
For more tips for securing your mobile device see: www.upenn.edu/computing/security/checklists/Top10/Top_10_Tips_for_Smartphones.php
For additional tips, see the One Step Ahead link on the Information Security website: www.upenn.edu/computing/security/
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