Secure your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

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Overview

To secure the data on your mobile device, you should always use a pattern, PIN, passcode, or password to lock it. If the device is lost or stolen, this precaution can prevent others from accessing your email, calendar, contacts, and other data. See Protect data on your mobile device.

Important:
IU's Mobile Device Security Standard (IT-12.1) requires the use of data encryption on handheld devices used to access, store, or manipulate Critical data at IU. Such use also requires "written approval from the senior executive of the unit involved or the Institutional Review Board confirming a critical business need".

Use Passcode Lock

Every iOS device provides a Passcode Lock feature that lets you set a four-digit passcode for locking the device. On a device running iOS 4 or later, you can choose to set either a simple four- or six-digit passcode or a variable-length alphanumeric passcode.

To use Passcode Lock on your iOS device:

  1. From the home screen, tap Settings, and then choose either Passcode or Touch ID & Passcode.
  2. To set an alphanumeric passcode, which is more secure, do the following:
    • Tap Turn Passcode On. If you already have a shorter passcode set, instead tap Change Passcode, then enter your current passcode. Tap Passcode Options. Tap Custom Alphanumeric Code.
    • In versions prior to iOS 9, if Simple Passcode is an option, turn it off. Then tap Turn Passcode On. If you already have a simple passcode set, instead tap Change Passcode, then enter your current passcode.
  3. Enter your passcode, tap Next, re-enter your passcode to confirm it, and then tap Done. For guidelines on setting a secure passcode, see Your IU passphrase.
  4. To select how long the device will remain idle before requiring your passcode, tap Require Passcode, and then choose an option. The shortest time provides the best security. If you have a device with Touch ID and are using it to unlock your device, you will only have the option to require a passcode immediately.

With Passcode Lock turned on, you'll see "Data protection is enabled" at the bottom of the "Passcode Lock" screen.

If you forget your passcode, see If you forgot the passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your device is disabled.

Enhance standard security

Hardware encryption is built into iOS 4 and later, and is a standard feature on the iPhone (3GS and later), iPad (all models), and iPod touch (third generation and later). To enhance the standard security of your iOS device:

  • Enable Passcode Lock's Erase Data option. To do so, on the "Passcode Lock" or "Touch ID & Passcode" screen, turn on Erase Data, and then tap Enable. With this option set, your device will securely erase all data after 10 failed passcode attempts.
  • When backing up your device data to a computer, use the encrypt backup option in iTunes. UITS recommends setting a password that uses a combination of letters and numbers, and saving it in your Keychain.
  • If you use iCloud to back up your device data, make sure to use a strong iCloud password.
    Important:
    At Indiana University, if you use your device to access or store protected health information (PHI) regulated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), do not use a non-IU cloud service (such as iCloud or Google) to back up your device data, regardless of the strength of your password. For more about working with PHI at IU, see About dedicated file storage services and IT services with storage components appropriate for sensitive institutional data, including research data containing protected health information.

Wipe data from your device

To remove all personal data from your device, see Clear all data from your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. You can restore your device by connecting it to the computer you use to sync it.

At Indiana University, if you have configured your device to connect to Exchange, you can use Outlook on the web to wipe your data remotely if your device is lost or stolen; see Manage your Exchange ActiveSync device in Outlook on the web.

For more about iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch security, see Apple Support.

This is document ayem in the Knowledge Base.
Last modified on 2023-05-10 06:02:37.