Bring Your Own DeviceSecurity (BYOD)

Bring your own device (BYOD), also called bring your own technology (BYOT), bring your own phone (BYOP), and bring your own personal computer (BYOPC), refers to the organization policy to allow employees to bring personally owned devices (laptops, tablets, and smartphones) to their workplace.

One of the biggest headaches for IT departments are employees who bring their own devices to work. While unavoidable in the smartphone age, it drastically increases the risk of a network attack or disruption while also being incredibly difficult to regulate or monitor. All it takes is one person connecting their phone to your network to disrupt your server and leave private data newly exposed.

It is important, therefore, that companies establish a clear-cut Bring Your Own Device policy. A successful BYOD policy should recognize that employees will bring some sort of internet-capable device to work with them, and layout clear rules and procedures for handling them at work and for maintaining a fixed standard of security on the device. BYOD security will inevitably rely heavily on the cooperation of the individual owners of the devices. Mobile device security will be a major focus as that is the one device virtually every worker, regardless of position or duties, will be bringing with them from home, it will also be the one they’re most reluctant to part with. Laptops and tablets will also present issues though, especially with workers who do a lot of traveling or work from home.

Our IT consultants have years of experience dealing with issues like these. Schedule a consultation, and we’ll go over a range of laptops, tablets, and mobile device management solutions that can make your company and your employees safer. Bring all external devices would be unpopular and unenforceable, but it is possible to set certain limits on what devices are allowed. We can also help you develop policies for minimum system requirements and configurations and mandatory security software updates, as well as assist with applying security patches, encrypting company data on the devices, and much more. We’re also prepared to help with training programs and seminars to make sure your workforce knows exactly what’s expected of them.