With the rise of remote work, higher demand for flexibility in the workplace, and increased technology costs, many businesses are choosing to implement bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies. By allowing employees to use personal devices for work, companies can more easily support different work locations, maintain workflows, and reduce their expenses.
However, BYOD setups can also present significant security challenges. Today, we’re taking a closer look at these risks, including what they mean for your business and how you can combat them with careful BYOD security policies.
What Is BYOD?
BYOD stands for bring your own device, which means that employees can use personal smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc., to perform work tasks. This includes accessing company email accounts, networks, apps, databases, and more through personal devices.
BYOD offers greater flexibility for both employees and administrators because it allows them to work from anywhere and avoid the hassle of carrying around (or paying for) multiple devices.
What Are the Risks of BYOD?
BYOD policies can be a convenient option for many businesses, particularly when teams are spread out across a large geographical area. Though without proper BYOD security, they also present serious risks and challenges:
- Lost or Stolen Devices: Very few lost or stolen devices are ever recovered, leaving company data and resources exposed to unauthorized parties.
- Lack of Robust Security: Without strong encryption and other protective measures, personal devices can become easy targets for cyberattacks.
- Privacy & Access Controls: Sharing personal devices or failing to establish strict access controls can allow unauthorized individuals to access confidential corporate information.
- Unsecured WiFi Networks: Employees connecting to public or unsecured WiFi can expose company data to potential interception by cybercriminals.
- Malware: Malicious apps or software can compromise device security, leading to infiltration of corporate systems.
- Data Loss: Insufficient device security can lead to data breaches or even accidental leaks that cause severe financial and reputational damage.
- Compliance Complications: Businesses must take extra measures to confirm that all personal devices align with data protection laws and compliance regulations in order to avoid fines and other complications.
What BYOD Security Policies Should I Implement?
Combating these challenges and keeping your company secure can seem a little overwhelming—that’s where BYOD security policies come in. These strategies will allow you to keep business data, accounts, and applications secure while still enjoying the benefits of a BYOD setup.
Employee Security Training
Educating employees on the risks associated with BYOD—as well as how to combat them—is one of the best ways to stay secure. Teach them how to implement proper security measures, identify suspicious activity, and secure their accounts when they’re using their devices for personal activities. This culture of awareness and responsibility will be one of your strongest defenses.
Acceptable Use Guidelines
Within this training, establish clear rules for how personal devices should be used for work and make sure employees clearly understand them. Decide which data and applications can be accessed through personal devices, what security controls employees must have in place, what controls the company will have over hardware, etc.
Login Requirements
Even though other people may have access to the personal devices your employees are using for work, you can ensure that only your employees have access to company resources with detailed login requirements. This can include requiring MFA on all accounts; using a password manager to create and store unique, complex passwords; or implementing session timeouts.
Encryption Protocols
Encryption secures sensitive data by converting it into unreadable formats. This is crucial for protecting company information on personal devices, especially when hardware is lost, stolen, or connected to unsecured networks. With careful encryption policies in place, your data will remain safe from interception and unauthorized access.
Expert Insights
While these BYOD security policies provide a strong foundation, partnering with an experienced IT provider is the most effective way to comprehensively protect both your business and your devices. Experts can identify potential vulnerabilities, launch advanced cybersecurity solutions, and provide ongoing monitoring so your systems will always be one step ahead of emerging threats.
Prioritize BYOD Security with iTology
Keeping track of your business’s security can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. When you partner with iTology for BYOD security, general cybersecurity, or any of our other managed IT services, you’ll experience detail, innovation, and quality like none other. Your success, growth, and safety will always be our top priority, and our service will always reflect that.
Chat with one of our team members to learn more about our services or schedule your Cybersecurity Risk Assessment today.
