BYOD Security is No More a Nightmare with these 3 Best Practices!

By CIOReview | Tuesday, July 16, 2019

With new changes in the workplace come new security risks, but holding off from adopting BYOD trend is an uphill battle.

Fremont, CA: Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) has become a trend amongst enterprises, with many employees using personal devices at workplaces worldwide. It can provide several key benefits to enterprises and higher appeal when it comes to hiring and retaining employees. However, with these benefits comes to increased security risks. If left unconsidered, BYOD can lead to data breaches and increased liability for the organization. Below are the best practices for preventing BYOD data breaches.

• Creating a BYOD policy

Given the rising risks that personal devices can bring to the workplace, it is never a good idea to ban them from the office, as removing BYOD can create roadblocks to efficiency. The best way to overcome the issue is to work with the growth of BYOD and understand it as a new-age workplace reality. Ensuring that the employees agree to and sign a BYOD policy that outlines security guidelines can ensure that every worker is informed about best practice.

• Flagging Stolen Devices

Personal devices can be easily lost or stolen and IT should be immediately notified of this. Organizations should ensure that employees can easily report lost or stolen devices so that the company can wipe data and access to networks remotely using its MDM platform before the criminals can access sensitive data.

• Shifting Cybersecurity Stance with Training and Education

While perimeter protection remains very important, the stress should be on the employees, the most productive conduit of hackers. Here education of employees is vital. It ranges from simple lessons on online hygiene to more profound education plans that inform staff about cybersecurity threats. The more the team know about possible dangers, the better the outcomes.

As in any incident of cybersecurity, the skill is in a balancing act between empowering the workforce and screwing down. Technology platforms can help to an extent, but the responsibility falls ultimately in the hands of the employers to secure each device.