Workplaces today have changed. They extend beyond the working hours, beyond the cubicles. Whether you are commuting to work or even vacationing, chances are you or your employees take a break from the break to reply to those important emails that require ‘immediate action.’ So what does all this mean for your business in terms of IT security? Does BYOD translate to bring your disaster to work? This blog explores the risks of BYOD culture and offers tips on how you can avoid them.
You are opening the virtual floodgates to all kinds of malware and phishing attacks when adopting the BYOD culture. First, your employee may be storing work-related data on their devices and then clicking a malicious link they received on their email or (even WhatsApp in case of tablets or smartphones). This can put your entire network at risk. Secondly, you cannot control how your employees use their devices. They may connect to unauthorized networks, download unauthorized software programs, use outdated antivirus programs, etc. Even something as simple and harmless as the free Wi-Fi at the mall can spell danger for your data.
What Can You Do?
First of all, if you have decided to adopt the BYOD culture in your organization, ensure you have a strong BYOD policy in place. It should cover the dos and don’ts and define boundaries and responsibilities related to the BYOD environment.
It also makes sense for you to invest in powerful antivirus software and mandate those employees following the BYOD model to install it. You can also conduct device audits to ensure your employee’s devices are up-to-date in software, security, and firewall requirements to the extent that they are safe to use for work purposes.
And one of the most important aspects–train your employees on the best practices related to basic data security, access, and BYOD environments. This will ensure that they don’t make mistakes that prove costly to you. You can conduct mock drills, tests, and certifications and provide the BYOD privilege to only those who clear your tests. You could also use positive and negative reinforcements to ensure everyone takes it seriously.
BYOD is great in terms of the flexibility it lends to both–the employer and the employee. The trend is here to stay. However, it is up to businesses to ensure it helps more than it can hurt.
