How to secure corporate data and wipe Android phones remotely
Robust management strategies are needed because of the growing presence of Android devices within enterprises, from smartphones and tablets to ruggedized tools. Priority is given to the protection of sensitive information and ensuring continuity of operations. This article discusses how to remotely wipe Android devices and protect corporate data on both company-owned and employee-owned BYOD devices.
Why do you want to wipe the Android phone remotely?
The security of devices and data is becoming critical as enterprises adopt Android to improve the productivity of their employees. There is valuable information stored in these devices that cannot be compromised. Companies can enforce security measures on company-owned devices using Android Kiosk Mode to prevent app installations (guarding against malware) or block malicious websites.
However, data security risks remain:
- Lost or stolen devices: A missing device is vulnerable to unauthorized access and misuse.
- Employee departure: When employees leave, their personal devices might still contain work profiles with business apps and data.
In such scenarios, a remote wipe is the most crucial step to protect corporate data.
What is Remote Wiping?
Remote wiping is the process of remotely deleting corporate data from a lost, stolen, or no longer-needed work device. This includes information on device storage as well as in business applications.
How to Remotely Wipe Your Android Devices: A Step-by-Step Guide
A step-by-step guide to protecting corporate data in different management modes, such as kiosk mode and single app mode, Scalefusion, a mobile device management solution, offers comprehensive security features. The IT administrator can remotely reset any device belonging to the company and wipe all data, applications, or settings of devices that have been breached. This ensures that the data are completely erased and that there is no risk of misuse.
To remotely wipe all data from a company device:
- Navigate to the “Devices” section of the Scalefusion dashboard.
- Click on “Device details” to remotely erase device data and apps.
For a deeper dive into securing data on lost or stolen devices, explore “How to Protect Corporate Data on Lost Phone / Stolen Devices.”
How Does Remote Wipe Work on BYOD Devices?
Because of the presence of personal data, settings, and applications on employee-owned devices, companies are unable to enforce a factory reset. A more focused approach is needed to avoid affecting sensitive data when IT has to delete company information from the mobile devices of employees leaving the organization. The Android MDM solutions from Scalefusion allow you to selectively delete corporate apps and data on BYOD devices remotely, without affecting the personal data of your employees. The device’s working profile is essentially wiped out by this.
Read More about What is BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and Why is it Important for Gen-Y Companies
How to Remotely Wipe or Reset an Android Phone
To remotely wipe an Android phone in case of loss or theft:
1.While creating a BYOD device profile, configure work profile settings and navigate to “Work Profile Password” under restrictions. Enable “Work Profile Password.” This ensures a password-protected work container regardless of whether the employee sets a device password. Enforce strong, complex passwords.
2. Configure password management settings. Set a password expiry period and enforce idle auto-lock or inactivity to automatically lock the work container after a set time. Additionally, define the number of failed attempts allowed before a remote wipe is triggered. This will only remove work apps and data, not factory reset the device.
Remote Wipe When an Employee Leaves
The remote wipe process for BYOD devices is similar to company-owned devices, except that it targets only work apps and data. The employee’s device will continue to function normally.
To initiate this process:
- Navigate to the “Devices” section on the Scalefusion dashboard.
- Select the target Android device.
- Click on “Delete device” (this will delete data from the Android phone). This action will remove work apps and data from the device.
Conclusion
Scalefusion empowers businesses with robust security features, including remote wipe functionality. This ensures the protection of corporate data on lost, stolen, or decommissioned Android devices, regardless of ownership.