MOBILE ERP: PROACTIVE DEFENSES
Yesterday we spoke of how your business’s mobile ERP functionality could be protected with commonsense policies in place to reduce the impact of corporate smart phone theft. Certainly, policies are a serious approach to securing data that can be accessed remotely, but the ERP vendors also have a responsibility to offer a service that is protected by innovative and state-of-the-art defenses. Here’s three that could make a difference and keep your ERP system safe while giving access any where and any time to those that need it:
1. PROTECT MOBILE ERP LIKE THE SENSITIVE NETWORK THAT IT IS.
Today’s system administrators have an array of tools to protect an institution’s network from attack, but soon that network will be outside the building and all over the world as mobile ERP on corporate smart phones become a standard. Those same network apps that monitor each station for unusual access frequency, duration, or upload/download amount are going to be needed on the frontline of the mobile ERP world.
2. LINK PHONE’S GPS WITH MOBILE ERP.
Many mobile ERP options offer GPS as a function of the application, allowing you to view and analyze your sensitive data in relation to where you or a customer/vendor is located. However, a phone’s location can itself be an indication of theft. Once a phone travels beyond a certain range of work, shouldn’t your IT receive an e-mail? Future attempts to access your ERP system from that device can then be flagged or blocked entirely.
3. CONNECT PHONE’S UNLOCK FUNCTION WITH MOBILE ERP.
If the Mobile ERP app detects multiple failures to unlock the phone, the Mobile ERP could be deactivated. No doubt there are other signs of unauthorized access as well that a Mobile ERP app could monitor and act accordingly. Forewarned, as they say, is forearmed, and when it comes to blocking unauthorized and unwelcomed access into your ERP system you should take all the ‘fore-‘ you can get.
ERP vendors are already adding features at a cumbersome rate, so make sure that some of those features are looking ahead and looking out for your data’s security. An ERP consultant can certainly help guide you on these and other issues, but the ERP industry as a whole should be ahead of the security game so you can concentrate on your business.