How to Prevent Your Gadgets From Leaking Company Data
From the Citibank (C) leak to the Sony (SNE) breach, company data seems more vulnerable than ever. On BNET's The Live One program, CBS Producer Sumi Das and I interviewed Robert Vamosi, a senior analyst at Mocana and author of When Gadgets Betray Us. The book shows all the ways our devices, from smartphones to GPS, aren't as secure as they should be.
Vamosi brought up lots of gadget tips during our 20 minute conversation, but he pointed out three specific ways you can keep your business gadget data secure.
[video=6249537-BNET]
Know where your data is: Modern printers, photocopiers, and similar devices usually have a hard drive that records everything that passes through. Imagine a legal firm that copies years of classified documents on the same machine.
Vamosi recommends owning your own machines and not using devices at the local copy shop. He also says to be careful sending in machines for repair as the maintenance company will have access to your data -- if possible, remove the hard drive and just give it the device.
Look at all the configuration settings: When you get a new device, look at the default settings and turn off anything you don't need. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and other features create additional ways for hackers to access your data.
Be conscious of how devices are used: Each device should have a thoughtful purpose and each action has a risk. For instance, when giving your employees a smartphone, Vamosi says you should be explicit whether they can or cannot download sensitive work documents. Allowing employees to access classified material on the road may make them more productive, but it also makes another oppportunity for a security breach.
Vamosi's book When Gadget Betray Us is available now. Mocana is currently offering a free Kindle edition if you sign up for the company newsletter.
Related: