The bring your own device (BYOD) phenomenon has increasingly become popular in recent years due to significant benefits, such as enhanced productivity and flexibility for businesses and employees. However, despite these potential benefits, the BYOD trend does come with some risks to be aware of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When not wholly understood, BYOD can threaten the very foundations of enterprise IT security and jeopardize the company\u2019s IT systems. In this post, we\u2019ll explore what BYOD is, the benefits of BYOD<\/a>, and how to address the security challenges that it poses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BYOD is an evolving practice where organizations allow employees to use their personal devices for work-related activities. Companies that leverage BYOD usually allow employees to use their own laptops and smartphones at the workplace rather than strictly requiring them to use company-owned and IT-managed devices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For this practice to work effectively, IT teams must craft policies that address BYOD security concerns<\/a>, such as the type of devices employees can use for work-related activities and the ownership of data on the endpoint. In some cases, IT teams may require employees to install specific security applications on their endpoints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, IT teams may install an application that wipes the corporate data if it detects any potential tampering. While an effective BYOD policy<\/a> is necessary to safeguard corporate resources, some employees may not want to participate in it. This is especially true if the mobile device management (MDM) policy gives IT teams remote access to employees\u2019 devices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Other companies may also require that specific applications be blacklisted on the mobile device. Under such settings, employees may prefer to have one device for work and other devices for personal use to create a distinct break between their office and home lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to recognize that while BYOD is extremely popular in modern workplaces, there are other device types and strategies that exist. Some of those are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The primary difference between BYOD, COPE, COBO, and CYOD<\/a> is that BYOD refers to personal devices used for work purposes, while the other three are corporate-owned devices (COD). Each of these device strategies has its advantages and disadvantages \u2014 let\u2019s dig into the ones associated with BYOD in particular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses and employees can derive significant benefits from BYOD. Let\u2019s explore some of these benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A well-executed and controlled BYOD environment allows the organization to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since employees use their preferred devices at the workplace, organizations no longer need to purchase the hardware. Also, companies don\u2019t need to train their employees to use their personal devices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a positive correlation between the convenience that employees derive from their personal devices and productivity. By using their preferred devices, employees get comfortable mastering their use, potentially enhancing productivity. Also, these devices are usually equipped with the latest technology that employees can leverage at their workplaces to drive productivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n BYOD can decrease the number of frustrations associated with using unfamiliar technology. As such, employees are more comfortable in their work environments and can work from any location and at any time. This tends to raise their satisfaction levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Like businesses, employees can also derive significant benefits from BYOD, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n BYOD allows employees to have all the applications and data on one device. They can also seamlessly navigate from one tab to another, check personal emails, and attend meetings, all from the same device. This allows them to save a lot of effort that they would otherwise spend juggling between corporate-owned and personal devices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Employees generally get attached to their mobile devices and are more likely to update them regularly. They may also buy smart devices with the latest technology whenever available. For example, an employee with Microsoft\u2019s Surface Pro can use that device\u2019s cutting-edge technology for personal use and work-related activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BYOD allows employees to modify and even design the devices they own. For example, they can customize their laptop\u2019s interior and exterior according to their liking or upgrade the hardware, potentially enhancing their experiences and productivity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If the organization decides to let employees use their preferred devices for work, you should prepare for the BYOD risks<\/a> detailed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IT teams can spend countless hours on error-prone and time-consuming manual processes without an onboarding automation strategy when adding new devices to IT infrastructure. And with staff turnover increasing in virtually all companies, a manual onboarding process has negative impacts on efficiency and security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n BYOD environments are inherently heterogeneous, consisting of multiple device types and OSs like Android or iOS. This tends to conflict with legacy solutions in the organization and complicates their management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Employees frequently download various types of files and applications on their devices. This can increase the chances of them downloading malware that could spread to the entire enterprise network when they log in from the infected machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without an effective BYOD policy, it\u2019s likely that some of the applications that employees use may not meet stringent security requirements. If an employee\u2019s account is hacked, it could expose the company\u2019s confidential data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If an employee\u2019s mobile device goes missing or is stolen, the best-case scenario is that it becomes an inconvenience to the user. In a worst-case scenario, hackers could easily use the device to compromise corporate accounts and data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Without an effective identity management solution, employees can continue accessing business applications from their mobile endpoints even after leaving the organization. Disgruntled employees can exploit this loophole to compromise the security of the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the risks, BYOD is here to stay. For effective BYOD management, IT teams should make provisions that clearly define the process of onboarding devices and ensure that all the devices have the required policies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n IT teams should also ensure that their BYOD policies capture all the enterprise mobility aspects, such as managing OS updates and de-provisioning devices when the employee leaves the company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You need effective MDM software in the BYOD workplace to achieve these functions. Such a solution should tightly integrate identity and access management (IAM) and mobility for users while ensuring seamless access across all the endpoints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Using MDM software can help you streamline user access and keep data on the devices safe. An MDM application can also help you track all the devices from a single console. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An important concern raised by IT-managed, employee-owned devices is an employee\u2019s right to privacy. The regulatory landscape around personal privacy continues to evolve, and an effective BYOD policy should protect not only corporate data, but the privacy of employee data as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When implementing formal BYOD practices for employee\u2019s devices, it\u2019s important for IT admins to clearly communicate what is being monitored, and to ensure the extent of this access aligns with privacy laws in their region. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if there are no applicable privacy regulations, companies should still remain thoughtful of employee data protection. Maintaining employee trust<\/a> is a key part of successful BYOD implementation. One cybersecurity report from Forcepoint found that BYOD adoption would increase by 48% if employees were sure that IT could not view or alter personal data or apps. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Is BYOD?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
BYOD, CYOD, COPE, and COBO<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What Are the Benefits of BYOD?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
BYOD Benefits for Businesses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. Cut down on IT spending <\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2. Improve efficiency and productivity<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
3. Raise employee satisfaction<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
BYOD Benefits for Employees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1. Convenience<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
2. Access to new devices and cutting-edge technology<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
3. More customization<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What Risks Are Associated With BYOD?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Onboarding personal devices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Managing heterogeneous operating systems (OSs)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Malware<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Data theft<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Lost or stolen devices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Improper device management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How To Manage BYOD<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
BYOD Employee Rights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Does the Future Hold for BYOD?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n