Maximize Efficiency & Savings with BYOD: Company Savings

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What Is Bringing Your Device?

Employees today are much more likely to own, control, and purchase smartphones and tablets for personal and work use.

Bring Your Device (BYOD) is the acronym commonly used. Do you remember when IT departments were very reticent to support personal devices? Around 2009, "Bring Your Phone," or BYOP as it is often known, began becoming more widespread among workers in various industries.

Many businesses even went so far as to block personal mobile phones from accessing networks or email servers altogether! Today, BYOD is becoming an accepted trend across industries worldwide.

IT departments typically expect Mobile Device Management software (MDM) to support employees' devices. Hence, they have access to sensitive corporate data at any time and any place - and the productivity gains as a result are substantial! Unfortunately, however, productivity gains may come at a cost!

What Is The Bring Your Device Policy (BYOD)?

BYOD refers to an agreement on how employees may utilize personal electronic devices in the workplace (such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets).

BYOD can be an inexpensive alternative to purchasing and issuing devices designed specifically for workplace usage.

It enables employees to utilize their devices on-premises or remotely to gain access to company networks, apps, and more.

How Does Byod Work?

BYOD policies define the appropriate use of technology within an organization and how best to utilize it while protecting itself from threats such as ransomware, hacking, and data breaches.

A well-drafted policy helps employees understand both the risks and rewards involved with BYOD usage in the organization.

Employees must sign a document outlining the policy regarding BYOD requirements, and employees who require accessing digital assets of the company on personal devices must meet them as per BYOD policy requirements.

All or part of the following may be included in a BYOD policy:

What constitutes acceptable personal device use for business purposes.
Types of mobile devices that IT approves for use.
Software that is required to secure the device. For example, mobile device management tools (MDM) and mobile application management tools (MAM).
Security measures such as the password requirement.
User responsibilities regarding the device and its network access.
Any incentives or reimbursement of costs for using personal data plans in connection with work activities.
A clear definition of termination policy.
Employees who stop using their devices at work need an exit plan.

Why Is BYOD So Important?

BYOD can bring many advantages for both employers and employees alike. Employees benefit by not needing to carry multiple devices around all day; plus, they get to choose the best device that fits them! Furthermore, companies save both costs and support burdens by not needing additional mobile devices in the office environment.

What Is The Level Of BYOD Access?

Boyd often allows employees the same access to corporate resources and devices that corporate-owned devices do, with certain exceptions, such as environments involving susceptible data or those that require stringent regulatory compliance.

In these circumstances, IT might limit employee use of personal devices - for instance, in government agencies, financial institutions dealing with sensitive data, or organizations likely to be targeted by hackers, their IT department might opt to deploy corporate devices instead to keep these employees more protected.

What Are The Challenges Or Risks Of BYOD?

IT cannot effectively oversee BYOD devices because employees do not wish for IT to gain control over their personal information.

IT cannot prevent hackers from breaking in through these devices and installing tools like screen recorders and keyloggers; cybercriminals increasingly target personal devices due to security breaches.

BYOD Policies vs. Corporate-Owned Policies

COBO and COPE offer alternatives to BYOD. These two device ownership models generally follow this structure: the company owns and purchases devices, while employees gain access to relevant content on the network through these devices.

IT may implement additional controls like mobile device management software and threat detection tools in this situation; however, such policies could negatively affect employee satisfaction as they require more devices at any given time.

BYOD's Best Practices

IT must take into consideration the following to successfully implement BYOD:

Put in place a written employee policy.
Outline all of the details that an employee should be aware of.
As technology and threats change, update your policy.
What is acceptable and what isn't?
Protect corporate data with tools like MAM.
Use a monitoring and change management strategy to ensure employees follow the policy.
You should have procedures in place to deal with lost or stolen devices.
Processes for security incident response are essential.
Train your employees about BYOD during their onboarding.
Establish clear expectations about what will happen if an employee violates a policy.

Implementing A BYOD Policy

Establishing expectations and providing employee training are critical components of an initial BYOD initiative for organizations.

Aim to do this either during your registration process for HR/IT purposes or when welcoming new hires onto your team.

BYOD policies have become prevalent within many companies, offering cost savings while creating employee convenience.

While IT specialists worry that mobile devices pose security threats without adequate controls in place, due to this concern, some firms have had to switch away from BYOD devices towards corporate-owned devices as an option for employees.

What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Adopting A Bring Your Device Policy?

As with any policy, BYOD has advantages and drawbacks that should be carefully considered when considering workplace implementation.

Here are a few major ones.

Benefits Of A BYOD Policy

Savings For Your Business

BYOD policies can save your business money.

Since employees use their own devices at work, they may be more cautious with them, and you no longer need to replace stolen or broken devices. BYOD refers to your responsibility to ensure the software and applications your company utilizes are compatible with all operating systems and devices - for instance, your virtual phone system should work across iOS, Android, PC, Mac, or others.

Cisin's desktop and mobile applications work across all systems. Our customers can use their phone or computer to make calls, video meet, send SMS/instant messages, and host video conferences.

Get Onboard Faster

When your company is rapidly growing or hiring employees, giving them their own devices may prove quicker and more accessible - mainly if their work involves hybrid or remote work environments.

Updates Are Easier To Maintain

Making sure all employees use the latest versions of laptops and mobile phones can take time, as can rolling out hardware updates for all employees at once.

Employees using their computers for work may be more likely to stay current on updates and hardware replacement needs.

More Flexibility

The hybrid and remote working model has proven its resilience: you can now work from any location using any mobile device, making remote working opportunities just as productive for employees as at an Office location!

Want More Information About Our Services? Talk to Our Consultants!

Disadvantages of a BYOD Policy

Employee Privacy Is Compromised

Employees may become concerned about Privacy when their company implements a Bring Your Device policy (BYOD) policy.

When employees use personal devices for email or browsing the web at work, their company could monitor these interactions more closely than usual, potentially blurring the distinction between personal life and the professional sphere.

IT Support Can Be Complicated

IT support becomes more accessible when everyone uses similar laptops and phones; upgrades and maintenance become more challenging when IT departments must address different pieces of equipment or operating systems.

While companies typically provide different devices depending on employee preference (for instance, Apple or PCs may be offered), this shouldn't pose much of a barrier.

Malware

Malware is unavoidable in any business that utilizes BYOD policies; however, companies with solid security programs and policies may see fewer malware issues overall.

What Should Be Included In A Byod (Bring Your Device) Policy?

Let's take a look at the BYOD policy you should have. It shouldn't just be, "This is what personal use is allowed and not allowed."

Communication Platform With Robust Functionality

Your employees need access to different devices when communicating, whether that means BYOD or not. Your unified communications platform (such as business phone systems, video conferencing software, or similar tools) must also allow this communication between employees.

Cisin works across iOS, Android, and Mac operating systems and enables employees to send SMS and instant messages, host video conferences, and make phone calls - without incurring additional effort or downloading additional applications.

Employees can easily download Cisin without additional steps being needed.

Establishing Rights for The Company On Devices

BYOD policies and acceptable usage policies may create legal complications. Who owns the data stored on the BYOD devices they brought with them to work? What happens if an employee leaves with company files still on them? Ensure your employees know their legal standing before crafting any BYOD or acceptable usage policy.

Please consult a lawyer before creating any BYOD Policies so they know where they legally stand.

Device Authentication

Companies that encourage BYOD policies often add extra authentication measures to devices as part of their security protocol, including two-factor or re authentication measures every few weeks or monthly as best practice measures.

Implementing two-factor authentication gives employees extra protection, no matter if or where their sensitive data lies. Requiring your employees to enter their password every few weeks and changing it on devices periodically also strengthens company policies against BYOD and increases overall employee security.

What Devices Are Allowed Or Required?

BYOD policies may remove some restrictions on what employees can bring into work, but that doesn't mean there should be no limits or requirements regarding what devices employees can use.

You might specify that only specific models of laptops and phones are allowed and that IT resources will support only current devices; iPhones or iPads from 10 years ago might pose problems.

Disclosure Of Risks, Liabilities, And Disclaimers

Employees must easily understand BYOD policies. Such policies should provide clear disclosures regarding risks and liabilities, - legal disclaimers regarding company data, or security precautions.

Provisions

Make your Bring Your Device policy successful by including specific provisions.

Passwords

Require employees to use strong passwords across all electronic devices they own - including apps and websites unrelated to work - including apps used for recreation, such as Netflix.

Consider SSO services that help reduce password burden in an attempt to simplify password memory for easier management.

Data Transfer

Verify that all data is encrypted and password-protected and can only be transferred between devices and apps approved by your business.

Privacy

Employers and employees must respect Privacy; to create an effective Bring Your Device policy, employees' data needs should be appropriately safeguarded.

Maintenance And Support

BYOD policies can also inform employees about what IT support to expect from their devices, for instance, by ensuring they stay updated and only certain apps are allowed into work environments or used for security.

IT departments assess all new devices that come in.

Byod Policies

BYOD policies are essential in businesses that permit employees to bring in mobile devices for work use, protecting companies against security concerns and issues posed by these devices.

Every BYOD policy must encompass the following:

Devices: Specify which devices and operating systems you are allowed to use.
Passwords: Enforce password protection for all devices.
Define: which functions you want to use, such as email, databases, etc. Employees can access their mobile devices.
Apps: Block any apps from outside that may cause additional security concerns.
Two-factor Authentication: Require two-factor verification on all devices. This prevents hackers from impersonating employees since it requires that employees log into company software using two steps instead of one.
Reimbursement: Describe any expenses you may reimburse employees for.
Training: Continually updates your employees about any security concerns and provides ongoing learning opportunities related to BYOD.
Device Control: Be clear about removing company data from devices owned by former employees since they could be an easy target for hackers.

Eight Tips To Reduce The Security Risks Of Your Byod Policies

Companies adopting BYOD policies prioritize security when setting them in motion, so here are a few measures to ensure your devices and your employees remain protected.

1. Plan Your Employee's Departure From The Company

BYOD policies become even more complex when an employee departs. Don't wait until off-boarding occurs before creating your policy; create an off-boarding plan to remove sensitive data and information from devices so the departing employee cannot access corporate resources or networks.

2. Use Mobile Device Management (MDM)

MDM (Mobile Device Management) is an approach you can adopt to ensure the secure use of mobile devices by employees within your business.

MDM services may be delivered over networks, apps, or the cloud. They should protect data on mobile devices while segregating personal and corporate files.

3. Use Application Readiness Automation

Automating application readiness testing will protect devices while relieving IT departments of their workload, including browser tests and updates for any Bring Your Own Device devices you own or support.

4. Invest In Anti-Malware Technology

Your staff may not use anti-malware software on their devices to safeguard themselves against malware attacks and cyber security risks, which increases risk.

Consider investing in programs for all the devices your employees will use to reduce this risk and protect their devices more effectively against infection by malware threats and attacks. This will lessen risk and keep the business running smoothly.

Read More: What is the impact of BYOD on enterprise software?

5. Strategize For Device Loss

Accidents happen, and devices may get misplaced or stolen despite our best efforts at prevention, but having a plan in place should help provide peace of mind if a device goes missing - installing software that wipes sensitive data off employees' devices would be one way of dealing with this.

6. Conduct Regular Data Backups

Your data backup strategy must form part of any BYOD program to avoid total data loss if your device or company data are stolen, lost, compromised, or erased accidentally.

7. Create A Clear Reimbursement Policy

Employers may legally owe you reimbursement for expenses you incur at work, and companies adopting BYOD programs, such as cell data plans for employee phones or replacing lost/stolen ones, could be included as reimbursement expenses.

When creating your policy regarding BYOD programs, consider what expenses need to be reimbursed and how you intend to manage them, and plan how your BYOD employees could be managed effectively.

8. Byod Policy Training: Provide Extensive Training

Even with all kinds of security measures and mandates in place, employees will likely use their devices however they wish most of the time.

To safeguard against cyber-attacks and data breaches, employees should be trained on how acceptable use is defined as well as potential risks they might encounter when operating BYOD devices securely and efficiently. It will equip staff members with the knowledge required to operate safely.

PenTesting, which simulates cyber attacks, is another viable approach to assessing customer-facing systems such as SaaS providers or SaaS apps.

Although pen testing may not apply directly to BYOD devices, it remains invaluable knowledge for endpoint devices in BYOD environments.

What Are The Most Significant Security Risks Associated With Byod?

1. Malware And Malicious Applications

Employees using their own devices to download information from unsafe websites could unwittingly download malware such as viruses, spyware, or adware that could include computer viruses; trojans, worms, or rootkits.

could also be present - with ransomware attacks becoming an increasing risk - potentially infecting company files if installed on employee devices.

2. Data Breaches

Security breaches can happen anywhere - from home Wi-Fi networks to public hotspots - where employees don't understand the consequences of sharing sensitive files over an unprotected network and hackers gain access to sensitive documents if carelessness prevails, including your company network should your device become stolen or lost and malicious people gain entry through malicious connections into its data storage and network systems.

3. Leakage Of Sensitive Data

Data leakage is one of the most significant concerns regarding Bring Your Device programs, mainly when employees use personal devices to access sensitive information like financial records and customer lists.

Be particularly vigilant if your company needs to comply with HIPAA regulations or manage sensitive information like social security numbers.

4. Data Loss

Data loss is always an existential threat, whether from being mislaid or physical failure of hardware devices.

How To Reduce Byod Risks

1. Communication And Strong BYOD Policies

Protecting your company when an employee's device is at stake requires being clear on the expectations, rights, and responsibilities outlined in a BYOD security plan.

Establish who's accountable for maintaining anti-virus software and what to expect regarding backups and storage locations for company information.

Put this data at risk! Don't bury its importance with other policies for your company in some file cabinet somewhere buried at the back.

Reaffirm its relevance regularly.

2. Byod Security Practices And Tools

No matter how carefully or frequently you remind employees about data security best practices, some employees might still fail to abide by them.

With tools that enable work/private life separation while protecting company data, security tools may help minimize BYOD risk.

Virtualization - Some companies provide virtualized desktops for employees as a secure workspace that stores files and applications on shared drives for central IT management, monitoring, backups, and restores.

VPN - VPN technology safeguards communications against being intercepted or falsified. App Segregation Certain devices enable users to separate work from personal activities on one screen, helping reduce the accidental sharing of wrong information and protecting privacy by keeping essential documents separate.

This reduces accidental disclosure.

Security At The Content Level - Certain apps provide security at the content level, preventing unauthorized individuals from opening documents unless they possess the password necessary to unlock them.

Endpoint Security and Mobile Device Management If your company utilizes device management features, remote wipe capabilities may allow it to remotely wipe a device when connecting to the Internet in future sessions.

Firewall Protection And Anti-Virus Software - Some employers purchase enterprise-grade security solutions to manage employees' devices effectively.

3. Monitoring And Maintenance Procedures

BYOD poses complex challenges due to its wide-ranging devices and usage scenarios. Employees might occasionally use personal phones or laptops daily for work-related use - you decide the monitoring requirements and who's accountable for their upkeep and maintenance.

BYOD Can Create A Flexible And Effective Working Environment

An effective BYOD policy can save your business money, increase productivity, increase flexibility, and enhance employee satisfaction.

Make sure that the software providers comply with your security and accessibility policies.

Cisin is an outstanding communications platform compatible with multiple devices and operating systems, ideal for businesses that utilize Bring Your Device policies without purchasing and implementing costly hardware, software, and infrastructure solutions.