How can you use EMM security benchmarks to compare your posture to others?

Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) is a baselining framework for managing and securing mobile devices and business applications employees use at the workplace. It comprises of tools, processes and people that help deploy and manage on-premises or remotely located mobile computing devices with access to a company’s network or data.

As a seasoned professional in the field of cybersecurity, I find the concept of EMM security benchmarks to be highly commendable and integral in enhancing the overall security posture of enterprise mobile environments. These benchmarks serve as a robust framework, to elevate the security levels of mobile devices, applications, data, and policies The comprehensive nature of EMM security benchmarks is noteworthy, covering critical aspects such as device encryption, password strength, app whitelisting, data loss prevention, malware detection, and compliance reporting. This holistic approach aligns with the evolving threat landscape and addresses diverse challenges faced by organizations in safeguarding their mobile ecosystems.

It is an important advantage to have separate virtual areas on the mobile device for company and personal use. Automated device registration and use, inability to copy company files to personal space or outside the device, and remote wipe features in case of theft or loss should also be among the selection criteria.

Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM), or MDM represents an essential component of an overall Cyber Security Strategy. Due to the increased use of mobile devices in companies, it is more important than ever to properly manage the use of such devices, especially from a security point of view. To assess the maturity of your program and implemented controls, you need to have a mechanism/methodology that will help you compare your organization's EMM program to the best industry standards and practices. This is when EMM security benchmarks come into play. Nowadays there are many applications in the market that have large communities of users in various industries, which makes them a very good and reliable benchmarking tools.

EMM security benchmarks can cover various aspects of mobile security, such as device encryption, password strength, app whitelisting, data loss prevention, malware detection, and compliance reporting. Security benchmarks may not always align with industry standards, creating challenges in evaluating mobile security universally.

In my extensive cybersecurity career, I've found EMM security benchmarks critical in enhancing mobile security, especially in demanding sectors like Telecom and Banking. However, I believe that while these benchmarks are essential, they should not be the sole focus. Tailoring them to fit the unique IT landscape of your organization is equally important. A notable instance in the Telecom sector demonstrated this approach's efficacy. By integrating EMM benchmarks with customized security strategies, we significantly heightened mobile security beyond standard compliance. This experience underscores the importance of adapting and enhancing industry standards with organizational-specific needs for robust cyber defense.

Sometimes it may not be noticed that a very strict policy is being implemented. Knowing the common usage becomes a mirror to see the pros and cons of the company.

The benchmarking in security is a proactive and strategic approach to ensuring the effectiveness of security measures. Establishing a baseline for mobile security practices. Identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in mobile device management. and ensuring alignment with industry regulations and best practices for secure enterprise mobility.

These benchmarks help establish a baseline of security measures, ensuring that devices are encrypted, passwords are robust, and applications adhere to established whitelisting practices. By addressing aspects like data loss prevention, malware detection, and compliance reporting etc.

In the EMM security landscape ???, tailoring benchmarks to your specific context is key ??. Relying solely on industry best practices can sometimes fall short ??, especially in dynamic sectors like Telecom and Banking. From my experience in cybersecurity, I've seen that sector-specific vulnerabilities often require bespoke strategies beyond standard norms. Merging industry standards with tailored approaches offers robust defense against both known and emerging threats ??.

Identify industry-specific EMM security standards and regulatory requirements. The FIRST step is to evaluate benchmarks aligned with your organization's mobility and data protection needs. And, then consider the globally recognized frameworks such as ISO 27001 and NIST. Try to seek vendor recommendations and community consensus for widely accepted benchmarks. Ensure chosen benchmarks are adaptable to emerging threats and provide comprehensive coverage for device, data, and network security.

To choose right EMM security benchmarks what we need, I can obtain some of what I share topics firstly as Assess Your Security Needs, Compliance and Regulations, Industry Best Practices, Scalability and Flexibility, User Experience, Comprehensive Coverage, Budgetary Considerations, tinuous Monitoring and Updates etc.

To maximize the impact of EMM security benchmarks ??, start by setting a clear, achievable baseline and target for mobile security. Communication with your team and stakeholders is key to align efforts. Utilize tools like EMM software and mobile security audits for data collection and analysis ??. Regularly compare your results against these benchmarks to spot improvement areas and celebrate successes. Implement and monitor prioritized security actions based on these benchmarks. Remember, the cybersecurity landscape is ever-evolving, so periodically review and update your benchmarks to stay relevant and effective ??.

Effectively utilizing EMM security benchmarks involves aligning them with organizational goals, implementing a comprehensive EMM solution, customizing benchmarks, educating employees, continuous monitoring, staying informed about updates, collaborating with peers, conducting regular audits, adapting to emerging threats, and benchmarking performance metrics for ongoing improvement.

While using EMM, two best guidelines to measure where you are - CIS Controla Mobile Companion Guide - Guidelines for Managing the Security of Mobile Devices in the Enterprise

Adopting EMM security benchmarks yields multiple benefits ??: 1. Improved Security Posture: Enhances the resilience and robustness of your mobile security. 2. Efficiency and Performance: Optimizes the performance of your mobile security systems. 3. Visibility and Accountability: Increases transparency in your mobile security operations. Additionally, it elevates confidence and reputation ??, showcasing commitment to mobile security excellence. This can lead to reduced costs from security incidents and breaches, offering a clear view of your security status and progress. Ultimately, leveraging these benchmarks can boost customer, partner, and regulator trust and satisfaction, fortifying your position in mobile security leadership ???.

There are many benefits of using EMM security benchmarks, to list a few: 1. Awareness of your current mobile security posture and resilience 2. Better, more efficient, and effective management of your mobile security performance 3. Strengthening your reputation as a company/organization that is devoted to the development of its enterprise mobility management program

EMM security benchmarks provide standardized, compliance-driven mobile security, enhancing protection, user productivity, and cost efficiency, while fostering continuous improvement and effective incident response.

Industry started with MDM and slowly moving towards UEM. Every organisation needs to assess the big picture first, understand their workforce threat landscape (on premise, remote, mobile, BYOD and hybrid) and then determine a balanced approach what will work best for them to mitigate those threats. There is no one size fit for all solution and some organisation may prefer to use certain combinations of tools to optimise defenses. Whatever solution or tools you choose to use, the threat monitoring and compliance check should be pro-active, not reactive.

EMM security benchmarks are more than metrics; they're catalysts for innovation and a proactive security culture ??. In my cybersecurity journey, these benchmarks have been pivotal in anticipating and mitigating emerging threats, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. They also act as a common language, simplifying mobile security complexities and fostering collaboration between technical teams, management, and stakeholders. This makes mobile security more accessible and actionable for everyone involved. In short, EMM benchmarks aren't just guidelines; they're dynamic tools reshaping mobile security in our digital age ??.

If the question is How to use EMM for security benchmarking when comparing your posture, follow these steps: 1. Select relevant EMM security benchmarks. 2. Assess your security configuration against benchmarks. 3. Score your alignment with best practices. 4. Identify and address gaps. 5. Continuously reassess and improve. 6. Anonymously compare results with industry peers

To effectively manage the use of mobile devices in your company/organization, it is very important to have an awareness of these: 1. Needs of your organization for mobile device usage 2. Knowledge about the capabilities of your company to implement EMM/MDM/UEM program 3. Information Security Culture in your company/organization (especially in regard to use of mobile devices)