What are the best practices for managing mobile device risks in consulting?

1 Device selection

The first step to managing mobile device risks is to choose the right devices for your consulting work. You should consider factors such as performance, compatibility, security features, and cost. Ideally, you should use separate devices for personal and professional use, or at least create different profiles or partitions. You should also avoid using public or shared devices, such as hotel or airport computers, as they may be compromised or monitored.

2 Device configuration

The next step is to configure your devices to meet the security and compliance standards of your client and your firm. You should enable encryption, password protection, biometric authentication, and remote wipe capabilities on your devices. You should also disable unnecessary features, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and NFC, when not in use. You should also update your devices regularly with the latest software and security patches.

4 Data backup

Even if you follow the best practices for data access, you may still lose data due to device theft, loss, damage, or malfunction. Therefore, you should always backup your data regularly and securely. You should use cloud-based or external storage services that offer encryption, redundancy, and recovery options. You should also test your backup and restore processes periodically to ensure that they work as expected.

5 Data disposal

When you finish your consulting work, or when you need to replace or dispose of your devices, you should erase all the data on your devices. You should not rely on the default delete or format functions, as they may not remove the data completely. You should use specialized software or hardware tools that overwrite the data multiple times with random patterns. You should also destroy the physical media, such as SIM cards, SD cards, or hard drives, if possible.

6 Device monitoring

The final step to managing mobile device risks is to monitor your devices for any signs of compromise, breach, or misuse. You should install and run antivirus, anti-malware, and firewall software on your devices. You should also review your device logs, settings, and permissions regularly to detect any anomalies or changes. You should also report any incidents or issues to your client and your firm as soon as possible.