Mobile devices
For workers across any number of sectors, tablets are replacing their computer, laptop or other devices as their primary mobile work device. For workplace Data Security Managers and IT Asset Managers, keeping an eye on all of these mobile devices whilst making sure that they remain both fit for purpose and secure can be something of a headache. For many companies it’s essential to remain at the cutting edge of technology, meaning that they are regularly upgrading and replacing their devices to newer versions. The need for careful disposal of data is therefore vital and needs to be effective.
Concerns
The concerns people have with disposing of tablets and other such mobile devices, are not so different from disposing of other devices such as laptops. These include having accurate records of disposal, environmental compliance, and data security which are auditable, as well as getting the best return on investment. Though tablets do create a few new risks that need to be looked at, mainly for security, they use SSD (Solid State Drive) technology. And, the storage capability of drives in mobile devices continues to grow.
A number of Mobile Device Management (MDM) tools are able to erase and wipe data from a device, though only if they are connected to a network. This begs the question, if the device is moved into storage and disconnected, can you be sure everything has been completely erased?
Ensure data is erased
Some IT technicians will connect and re-flash Apple phones and tablets running iOS, in order to completely wipe the drive and memory. The only risk is that, if the technicians at your disposal are busy, they may be unable to ensure that each and every tablet is re-flashed successfully. They also might not always have an auditable trail of paper to document the process.
In the absence of a strong process in place to make sure tablets; running iOS, Android, or Windows 8, are all erased and documented, your business could possibly be at risk of an audit penalty or data breach.
There are three things to confirm in the disposition of tablets:
- The disposition of the tablet meets the same corporate requirements as any and all other data bearing devices for data erasure.
- The process ensures compliance and auditable records to comply with regulations such as SOX, PCL, and HIPPA/HITECH.
- Any devices or accessories that can’t be remarketed or redeployed are disposed in compliance with all environmental regulations.
As much as flexibility and technological advancements are important for businesses, ensuring security is also of huge significance. Therefore it’s important that businesses have an effective procedure in place to deal with issues mobile devices can present.
As always, Lanonyx is here ready and available to take all your calls regarding all things Call Recording and Call Logging related, you can contact us here or give us a call on 0333 0022 440 and one of our friendly team will be on hand to help.