Security of Mobile Business Devices: Balancing BYOD Hype with Data Breach Risks

It's easy to forget that the phone you stick in your pocket is a computer, and yet, the security of your company's network could be compromised by that very device.

As mobile devices like smartphones and tablets become both more popular and more important to business operations, including in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM and ERP realms, the people in charge of security worry that corporate data is at risk. A survey conducted by the Executive Council and Galvin Consulting that nearly 90% of chief information security officers are concerned about the data transmitted via mobile devices.

The popularity of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is primarily behind this concern. And, although BYOD tends to refer to employees using their personally owned devices for work purposes, let's be realistic - many company-issued devices are being used for personal use. The lines between work and play have been blurred.

According to a Gartner survey, 90% of companies worldwide have deployed mobile devices or encourage their use for business situations. Most of that is smartphone use, but 86% plan to incorporate tablets into the mix this year. Questions abound over who gets to control how the phone is used. A device distributed via work can be controlled and monitored to some extent, but a personal phone? At what point can a business step in and dictate the apps downloaded or even if the phone is password protected.  

The fear of a data breach stands at the top of the list for many CIOs when dealing with mobile devices. Phones are surprisingly ...