Security

The Challenge:
Distributed Workforces are More Vulnerable

Frontline workers often operate outside the secure boundaries of a corporate office, using mobile devices in various locations, such as homes, retail stores, warehouses, or customer sites. These decentralized environments increase exposure to unsecured networks and devices. For example, home healthcare workers work with highly sensitive electronic medical records and use their devices for all aspects of clinical workflows in wide geographic areas.

In some industries, frontline workers share devices or use them for both work and personal activities. This increases the risk of cross-contamination between personal and professional data and creates opportunities for security breaches.

Because frontline workers' mobile devices are usually on the move, they're more prone to being lost or stolen, which could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data if devices are not secured with encryption or remote wipe capabilities.

The Solution:
Combine the Right Devices with Rigorous Endpoint Management That's User-Centric

To mitigate frontline workers' vulnerabilities, organizations should implement strong mobile security measures, such as endpoint management, device encryption, secure authentication (e.g., biometrics), regular security updates, and comprehensive training for employees. The key is to find the right balance between adequate protection and user-friendliness. Security measures shouldn't be so onerous they affect productivity.

For example, Apple devices support strong endpoint security by incorporating robust security features directly into the hardware and operating system, including end-to-end encryption for data, secure boot processes, biometric authentication (Face ID/Touch ID), strong access controls, and a dedicated endpoint security API that allows third-party security solutions to monitor and manage devices effectively—all while maintaining user privacy as a core design principle.

Stratix Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) uses containerization that separates personal information and applications from ones used for work on corporate-owned personally enabled (COPE) and BYOD devices to prevent cross-contamination while still giving the user a great experience.

This enables workers to securely access the sensitive information they need, such as medical records, payment processing, or inventory management on devices with minimal risk of data breaches.

The bottom line: IT leaders should be looking for the complete package of devices with robust and user-friendly security features and a comprehensive endpoint management strategy that layers on additional security while also automating routine IT team tasks for increased overall efficiency.