An employee at a company lost their mobile device that contains proprietary information. Which of the following methods is the BEST to be implemented to prevent unauthorized users from obtaining…

A lock screen pattern adds a barrier but does not remove the data; the device can still be accessed by bypassing the lock or reading the storage directly.

Cancelling mobile service prevents calls and data usage but does not delete data already stored on the device.

Remote wipe sends a command over a cellular or Wi-Fi network to the device, triggering a full factory reset that deletes all stored data including proprietary files, credentials, and applications. This is the most effective control because it eliminates the data entirely rather than merely hindering access. MDM solutions and services like Exchange ActiveSync, Apple MDM, and Android Device Manager support this feature.

A six-character password provides weak protection and can be brute-forced or bypassed, and does not remove the proprietary data.