Mobile Device Security Features in Exchange ActiveSync

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In addition to the ability to configure security options for communications between the Exchange server and your mobile phones, Exchange ActiveSync offers the following features to enhance the security of mobile phones:

Remote wipe If a mobile phone is lost, stolen, or otherwise compromised, you can issue a remote wipe command from the Exchange Server computer or from any Web browser by using Outlook Web App. This command erases all data from the mobile phone.

Device password policies Exchange ActiveSync lets you configure several options for device passwords. These options include the following:

Minimum password length (characters) This option specifies the length of the password for the mobile phone. The default length is 4 characters, but as many as 18 can be included.

Minimum number of character sets Use this text box to specify the complexity of the alphanumeric password and force users to use a number of different sets of characters from among the following: lowercase letters, uppercase letters, symbols and numbers.

Require alphanumeric password This option determines password strength. You can enforce the usage of a character or symbol in the password in addition to numbers.

Inactivity time (seconds) This option determines how long the mobile phone must be inactive before the user is prompted for a password to unlock the mobile phone.

Enforce password history Select this check box to force the mobile phone to prevent the user from reusing their previous passwords. The number that you set determines the number of past passwords that the user won't be allowed to reuse.

Enable password recovery Select this check box to enable password recovery for the mobile phone. Users can use Outlook Web App to look up their recovery password and unlock their mobile phone. Administrators can use the EMC to look up a user's recovery password.

Wipe device after failed (attempts) This option lets you specify whether you want the phone's memory to be wiped after multiple failed password attempts.

Device Encryption Policies There are a number of mobile phone or device encryption policies that you can enforce for a group of users. These policies include the following:

Require encryption on device Select this check box to require encryption on the mobile phone. This increases security by encrypting all information on the mobile phone.

Require encryption on storage cards Select this check box to require encryption on the mobile phone’s removable storage card. This increases security by encrypting all information on the storage cards for the mobile phone.