1. Creating a strong passcode and encrypting your data The first action you should take is to create a strong passcode, so if your iPad does fall into the wrong hands, they won’t gain automatic access to your data. This passcode also enables data encryption. You should go a step further and select the strong passcode option since the 4-digit numeric passcode is not effective enough - instead, you should create a complex password, containing a variety of letters, characters and numbers.
2. Enable Data Wipe on Failed Passcode setting If you have data on your iPad that you really wouldn’t want to fall into the wrong hands, there’s a feature you can enable to wipe it should someone enter an incorrect passcode too many times. You’ll find the option to enable this when setting up your passcode: In the Settings App, select the General menu and then click on ‘Passcode Lock’; At the bottom, switch the ‘Erase Data’ option to ‘On’ - you’ll need to read the warning that comes up and then select the ‘Enable’ button.
BEWARE: If you have kids who could get their hands on your iPad and start playing around with it, it may not be wise for you to set up this feature - a child could quite easily mess around with it and enter a passcode incorrectly more than ten times, and just like that, all your data will be gone!
3. Lojack your iPad Another security essential to take care of straight away is to enable the ‘Find My iPad’ app. You’ll also need to enable location services for this to work. If you ever lose your iPad, or it is stolen, this feature will allow it to be located, providing it is connected to a wireless network so that it can communicate with Apple’s services.
4. Use WiFi securely If you’re going to access a wireless network away from home, make sure you do so with caution. Only connect to a WiFi network you know is secure, since otherwise, your activity could be subject to “eavesdropping”. If in doubt, leave it out - or at the very least, limit what you do on a network you aren’t 100 per cent sure about, avoiding emailing, online shopping and banking.
Ultimately, the most secure way to work on public WiFi is through the use of a VPN (Virtual Private Network), which will channel all your traffic through a secure server. There are a number of affordable services you can buy into for this. Finally, when you’re not using your WiFi, disable it to save the life of your battery and enhance security.
5. BYOD If the device is privately owned and it is to be used for business purposes (typically referred to as BYOD - Bring your own Device) then employ a silo approach to the business data elements on the iPad. This could be configured by using a different email client for business email or, as more of our customers are adopting as a solution, by embracing the use of specific software to isolate the private device from the business data. Advantages include IT staff being able to control that specific element for the user's own device and business information being kept from inadvertently being left insecure or accessed by unauthorised parties. There is even the ability to place “security wrapper” around apps meaning, for instance, that any app could still be used for its intended purpose but, via the wrapper the information cannot, for example, be copied to another location. Please call or email us for information on BYOD security and app security wrapping.
6. Contact if lost Add a “contact if lost” message to your lock screen. It’s amazing how many trustworthy people still exist out there! Sometimes the only thing that stops them returning a misplaced device is that they simply don’t know who it belongs to. Through personal experience I can vouch that people will return an Ppad if they know how to. Add a message like “If found please call 776767676 or email fgfgffg@ - your honesty will be rewarded”. To add this message you can either use a specific app, or you can create the text then take a picture (screen shot) and select this as your device lock background. I’d suggest not using a home tel number for privacy reasons though. |
