Don't let the calendar deceive you – "Apple picking" season is now no longer just in the fall.
"Apple picking" refers to the widespread theft of Apple iPhones and iPads, specifically, but it also reflects a nationwide trend toward criminals stealing mobile devices of all kinds. In Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, cell phone thefts now make up nearly half of all robberies.
The New York Times provided an extensive list of possible solutions the industry could take, including installing theft prevention software or a "kill switch" to be activated when phones are stolen, but noted that manufacturers have been reluctant to take these steps.
So, with the industry itself not seeming to be willing to step to the plate to deliver a technological solution, the responsibility shifts to users themselves. In corporate settings, particularly among companies that provide mobile devices to their employees, this means more stringent BYOD policies, according to MSPmentor.
"Mobile device management protections are an essential these days to protect sensitive corporate information," the news source reported. "The momentum behind BYOD is not slowing down, and even the most security-conscious organizations have reported lapses. It's time to get in front of customers with these numbers about device thefts."
Between the costs of the devices themselves and the astronomical threat that sensitive corporate data could fall into the wrong hands, the stakes of mobile device theft are too high for enterprises to ignore. Every BYOD policy must include a mobile device management solution, and IT Principals should be looking to MSPs to help them implement one.
As we've reported before, the hurdles of implementing an effective BYOD policy can be high, but they're also able to be overcome when enterprises partner with MSPs that have access to the most impactful cyber security talent on the market, provided by VAR Staffing.
