Secure tablet use at work: practical measures that make a difference

Secure tablet use starts with updates and basic security hardening

Outdated systems are one of the most common causes of security incidents. To use tablets securely, keep both the operating system and apps reliably up to date. Establish a regular update schedule, for example checking weekly and installing critical updates promptly. Devices without current security updates should not be allowed to access company services.

Basic security hardening also helps:

• Set the screen to lock automatically after a short period of inactivity.
• Use a secure unlocking method, such as a strong password or PIN, or biometrics.
• Disable insecure settings; for example, allow installation from unknown sources only where strictly necessary.

Securing business tablets: app sources, permissions and shadow IT

Controlling apps is an important part of tablet security. Make installing apps only from official app stores a clear policy, not merely a recommendation. Otherwise, shadow IT can quickly emerge when someone installs an app “just for a moment” and grants it more permissions than it needs.

A practical approach is to review permissions regularly and remove unnecessary access. A simple app rarely needs access to contacts, the microphone or location data. Limiting permissions to what is necessary helps prevent many common risks on business tablets.

Using tablets on Wi-Fi: protect connections on public networks

Public Wi-Fi is convenient, but it comes with risks. In a hotel, at a trade fair or in a café, use a protected connection. Where available, use a VPN or modern identity-based access following Zero Trust principles. Standardised configuration profiles are particularly helpful for devices frequently used away from the office, so employees do not have to make these decisions themselves each time.

The same attention is needed internally: not every tablet needs to share a network with servers or production systems. Network segmentation, such as a separate Wi-Fi network or VLAN, significantly reduces risk.

Protecting mobile devices: loss protection, remote locking and remote wiping

Tablets can get lost. What matters is how well your company is prepared. To protect mobile devices:

• Enable device encryption and check that it is active.
• Set up a defined backup process for business data.
• Keep device location and management functions enabled.
• Make remote locking and remote wiping available.

When a device goes missing, time matters. Waiting until then to establish which accounts are signed in or what data is stored locally can waste valuable hours.

Make MDM the standard: apply tablet security consistently at scale

Once several devices are in use, mobile device management (MDM) becomes a key tool. It makes secure tablet use a consistent standard rather than a series of individual decisions:

• Enforce minimum PIN and password requirements and automatic lock timeouts.
• Define lists of allowed and blocked apps.
• Deploy Wi-Fi, VPN and email configurations centrally.
• Apply compliance rules, such as denying access to devices without required updates.
• Support separation of personal and business use where bring your own device (BYOD) is permitted.

For small and medium-sized businesses in particular, MDM is often the quickest way to make a noticeable improvement in tablet security while maintaining good acceptance among users.

BYOD risks: use tablets securely without creating conflict

When employees use their own devices, privacy and company security can pull in different directions. Clear, fair rules help make tablet use secure in a BYOD environment:

• Keep business data in managed apps or containers only.
• Do not access personal areas of the device unless necessary.
• Make defined minimum standards, such as screen locking, updates and encryption, a condition for access.

This keeps the solution practical and makes it easier to follow in day-to-day use.

Security awareness: phishing puts tablet security to the test every day

Technology alone is not enough. Phishing tests tablet security through links, QR codes, fake login pages and supposedly “urgent” messages. Short, recurring awareness sessions are often more effective than occasional lengthy training. Clear rules are essential: what should employees check, what should they report, and how should they respond when something looks suspicious?

Quick assessment: identify risks and priorities

A practical initial assessment is often the best starting point for securing tablets in your company. Which devices are in use, what are they used for, what data do they hold, which systems can they access, and where are the greatest risks? Verisite can help answer these questions with clear, practical guidance and measures that work in everyday operations.