Whether it’s through the constant use of passwords, answering security questions online or verifying an address over the phone, most people understand the importance of authenticating identities. But this theory also is critical to verify the identities of mobile devices connecting and interacting with a secure network.
Today, organizations require a methodical and proven solution to issue and manage mobile devices. Administrators need to know who and what is accessing corporate networks.
Granting secure access to corporate networks from mobile devices needs a strong and simple approach. Due to low security and unfriendly user experiences, usernames and passwords are no longer sufficient in the mobile world. Organizations need a secure, transparent and simple approach to enabling mobile access.
Security-conscious organizations rely on digital certificates as the foundation of their identity-based access and security measures. Digital certificates provide strong device identities to enable secure Wi-Fi or VPN access. Organizations also may leverage digital certificates on mobile devices to enable secure email (S/MIME) communication.
When using certificate-based security on mobile devices, organizations can defend themselves against unauthorized sharing of Wi-Fi passwords. In addition, end-user experience is simplified as they will no longer require tedious usernames and passwords.
In fact, according to Forrester Consulting, 38 percent1 of enterprises surveyed have either implemented mobile device certification for authentication or will do so in the next 12 months.
Digital certificates may be provisioned and managed through a variety of methods. Whether deployed via cloud or on-premise models, organizations may select the method that best suits their security needs, budget and environment.
1Technology Adoption Profile: Mobility Helps Enterprise Enter a New Age,” Forrester Consulting on behalf of Entrust Inc., March 2013.
