BYOD Security Concerns? We Have You Covered.

How many different devices do you depend on during your typical workday? It’s likely that you use multiple devices throughout the business day, and it’s also probable that not all of them were provided by the company you work for. If you’re nodding your head, you’re not an outlier. Thousands of employees use their personal devices every day to log into their organizations’ networks to download files, respond to messages, or perform their daily tasks. 

This is referred to as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). This term can apply to smart phones, tablets, personal computers, and even USB drives. This growing trend shows employees relying on personal devices over their corporate-supplied technology.

• “The BYOD market is on course to hit almost $367 billion by 2022, up from just $30 billion in 2014.” – Forbes
• “61% of Gen Y and 50% of [workers 30 and older] believe the tech tools they use in their personal lives are more effective and productive than those used in their work life.” – Dell
• “60% use a smartphone for work purposes while 31% desire one.” – Dell
• “Using portable devices for work tasks saves employees 58 minutes per day while increasing productivity by 34%.” – Frost & Sullivan 

There Are Good Reasons for Implementing BYOD, But It Comes With Risks

Relying on personal devices gives employees more freedom and flexibility in their workflow and raises productivity partly because they are already so familiar with their own technology. Implementing a BYOD policy can also save the company money on supplying hardware for all of its employees. The downside appears when you consider the security implications of allowing such free access to protected company data. It’s a new and challenging prospect to maintain security precautions on the personal devices of an entire workforce.

Devices that lack the proper safeguards leave you open to data leaks, malware infection, theft, and improper use of company resources. Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to mitigate these risk factors for your business. 

Develop Training and Don’t Let Them Forget It    

It’s not just on your IT department’s shoulders to protect your business data. It only takes one innocent mistake or negligent employee to compromise your security. Many users are unaware of the best practices to follow and what safe internet use looks like. You need to provide training for your workforce while reinforcing it with scheduled routine reminders on best practices. 

Design and Deploy an MDM/UEM   

The acronyms MDM and UEM refer to Mobile Device Management and Unified Endpoint Management. These policies provide the power and functionality to secure your mobile endpoints where all those personal devices connect to your network.

UEM allows you to manage the content and security of an employee’s personal device remotely. You can pair this with file integrity monitoring that enables the level of control your IT team members need to execute their tasks properly. 

The next step is containerization, where you separate work from play on a device. A passcode-protected lock screen may not be enough protection for your mobile endpoints. By containerizing corporate data, you further prevent unauthorized access to your proprietary information, and if you’re using single sign-on (SSO), it’s even easier for your end users. 

Develop a catalogue of approved apps and employees will have easy access to the right apps for business use. This mitigates the risk of employees using unapproved apps while on your VPN. 

Find a Professional Partner

The capabilities of every IT team are different—some can handle more than others. However, there are multiple elements to consider with BYOD, including mobile workers, numerous types of devices, cyber security threats, and the productivity needs of your business. All of this means your internal team may not always be able to handle the weight of an MDM or UEM solution on their own.

By partnering with a managed service provider, you are saving time and money for your internal team while raising the security posture of your enterprise as a whole. To learn more about all the intricacies of BYOD policies and how to protect your organization, contact RealCom Solutions today.