For small and mid-sized companies, mobile work has a lot of benefits, which is why so many businesses are jumping on board with mobility. It saves money – companies that allow Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) save $350 per year, per employee. It’s also a productivity booster. Small to mid-sized businesses can gain an extra 240 hours of work per year per employee with BYOD. It does this by making employees more connected, they are able to access files and other applications they need while being out of the office, directly increasing productivity from anywhere.
But, it’s also critical you’re making security a top priority. Microsoft makes this almost effortless. With Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS), your employees can stay productive without the traditional security threats of a BYOD workplace.
Let’s take a look at why Microsoft is such a great option for mobile working, as well as what type of security management your business should have in place if you have a BYOD workplace.
Microsoft balances mobile productivity and security
Microsoft has long been a cloud-based productivity powerhouse with its Office 365 package. With a subscription, users can create, share files, and collaborate in real-time with all the latest tools including Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.
On its own, Office 365 isn’t secure in a BYOD workplace. For any level of mobile work, it’s essential you’re managing usage and access, as well as endpoints and threat protection. Microsoft EMS covers these security basics with a suite of advanced security tools.
Why is mobile work risky?
There are a few key risks your business needs to protect against when it comes to mobile work.
- One, anyone can steal a mobile device. Once someone steals one of your employees’ laptops or a smartphone, they may be able to hack into it.
- Second, there are WiFi security risks. If your employees are communicating over a public network, your data and information may not be secure.
- Third, your employees’ devices may be more vulnerable to malware, phishing attacks, and other cyber threats simply because they likely access personal apps and email through their device, in addition to work apps.
Secure mobile working with Microsoft EMS
Microsoft EMS acts to prevent a lot of these threats. Here’s how:
Identify and access management
- In order to control access and to verify the person logging on is who they are supposed to be, you need intelligent access policies and strong authentication. EMS comes with different authentication options including multi-factor and passwordless options. One example would be the Microsoft authenticator app. Simply enter a phone number linked to your account then when you want to sign a number will be sent to your phone that will match the one on your screen. Then using their biometric (touch or face) or PIN on your phone to confirm. It also uses cloud-powered AI and machine learning to limit access when the system detects an identified risk.
Information protection
- To help keep your information safe, Microsoft EMS lets you classify your sensitive data. From here, you can configure the data security actions you want for certain files such as using encryption or visual markings. You can also monitor user behavior to help spot potential policy violations or risky behavior.
Threat protection
- The EMS bundle monitors threat signals so you can see where your system is vulnerable. You can rely on AI to detect and stop attacks.
Endpoint manager
- When using the cloud for in-house or mobile work, endpoint management is essential. Microsoft EMS comes with risk-based conditional access for apps and data.
Cloud access security
- Because Microsoft Cloud App Security natively integrates with Microsoft solutions, your IT security resources can tailor what they see, giving your business more control over data as it moves.
With Office 365 and EMS, you get the best of both worlds – enhanced productivity as well as robust security. Mobile working doesn’t have to be risky business when you have mobile device management covered.