[EDRM Editor’s Note: EDRM is happy to amplify our Trusted Partners news and events. The opinions and positions are those of ModeOne. This article was first published on September 25, 2024.]
From navigating custodian privacy to preventing costly overcollection of data, mobile device data collection for e-discovery/legal hold, corporate compliance, and internal investigations is already complicated enough. Add to that the fact that smartphone makers, like Apple and Google, are constantly updating their software and hardware which often expand mobile data discovery considerations––it’s a lot to manage.
That’s where the risk comes up for companies that don’t have a mobile data discovery solution that offers same-day support when Apple hardware and software update. If an organization is under litigation hold and their collection is scheduled for next week, they won’t be able to extract relevant data from their employees’ phones if they’ve prematurely updated, which opens the company up to potentially costly legal repercussions.
ModeOne.
That’s exactly what happened last week when Apple released their newest software upgrade, iOS 18, and highly-anticipated hardware release, iPhone 16. Failure to preserve relevant evidence on smartphones can have costly and time-consuming consequences for companies, and the recent Apple updates include some new data sources that legal, cybersecurity, and corporate compliance professionals need to be aware of to reduce risk.
As the iPhone 16 and iOS 18 release dates approached, our team here at ModeOne (a certified Apple developer) worked diligently to test the new Apple products and rapidly adapt our platform to remain the only system capable of targeted, truly remote smartphone collection–with no interruption to service. Those without access to ModeOne, however, are at risk.
The Problem: MDMs Aren’t Enough
Challenges arise with data collection when employees update their phones unexpectedly. The best companies can do is educate their employees against the risks, but ultimately phones are going to auto update with the newest software or employees will buy a new phone anyways to get access to new features and functionality.
MDMs (mobile device management), IT software that governs corporate-owned apps on personal devices, can also only do so much. They can block the copy function on email to promote data security, for example, or pull a list of apps from BYODs to ensure employees aren’t using restricted third-party apps. But MDM policies only cover a small amount of data on the device, and they can’t always stop people from updating software or buying new phones.
That’s where the risk comes up for companies that don’t have a mobile data discovery solution that offers same-day support when Apple hardware and software update. If an organization is under litigation hold and their collection is scheduled for next week, they won’t be able to extract relevant data from their employees’ phones if they’ve prematurely updated, which opens the company up to potentially costly legal repercussions.
Modern Companies Need Same-Day Apple Support
There are over one billion iPhone users in the world right now, which means that companies–especially those in heavily regulated industries that are more likely to undergo compliance and internal investigations–need a mobile data discovery solution that will evolve alongside Apple to minimize that risk. Add to that the fact that the DOJ is cracking down on the use of personal devices in business, and finding a partner that offers full compatibility with Apple products is even more critical.
At ModeOne, we provide day-one support to ensure data can be collected seamlessly no matter what devices or software are in use, ultimately helping our partners drive compliance and reduce risk.
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