Securing Android Devices

To secure an android device you should enable at least a pin code lock on the device, enable FDE (full disc encryption) and setup remote wiping capabilities by enabling mobile device management.

PIN Setup and FDE

Instructions are slightly different per device. Enabling FDE has the added benefit that you must also lock the device with a pin code or password.

Android 5.0 or later

Open the Security menu under settings. On unmodified versions of Android, this can be found under Settings > Personal > Security. Choose Encrypt Phone, Encrypt Tablet, or Encrypt Device. If you haven’t already set a PIN or passcode for the lock screen, you will be prompted to do so. Remember this PIN and do not write it down.

Android 4.4 or earlier

First, you’ll need to set up a PIN. Navigate to Settings > Security > Screen Lock, and set a numeric PIN for the device of at least four digits. Remember this PIN and do not write it down.

Then, open the Security menu under settings. On unmodified versions of Android, this can be found under Settings > Personal > Security. On some devices, the exact menu layout may have been modified by the hardware manufacturer. Choose Encrypt Phone or Encrypt Tablet.

Android Versions before 3.0

Android does not support disk encryption in versions earlier than 3.0 (Honeycomb). If you have one of these devices, we recommend that you do not use it.

Mobile device management

Using mobile device management (MDM) software allows administrators to remotely manage mobile devices, which often includes the option to delete apps and data from lost or stolen mobile devices.

There are many commercially available MDM tools to evaluate. Google Endpoint is available for organizations using Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), which has free plans for non-profit organizations. Check out the Endpoint documentation overview for more information, including how to enable mobile device management, and how to remotely wipe a device.

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