BYOD, or ’bring your own device,’ has steadily become a staple in modern workplaces.
Recent findings from a Gartner survey reveal that 70%1 of global IT enterprises already have or plan to implement a BYOD policy.
Using employee devices on corporate networks offers flexibility and business productivity boosts. But to manage BYOD successfully, you need to overcome its security challenges, and Mobile Device Management (MDM) plays a major role.
The balance between enabling employee convenience and protecting company assets is delicate, making a comprehensive approach to BYOD management crucial.
What Are the Security Risks Associated With BYOD at Work?
Reducing BYOD security risks is a prerequisite to making it a company-wide practice.
Some device security challenges of BYOD versus corporate-owned devices include:
- Dealing with security threats of employees using their personal smartphones on unsecured free Wi-Fi and hotspot offerings in public places can expose sensitive company data.
- Applying uniform security measures on employee-owned devices using different operating systems.
- Ensuring all different types of devices have the latest security patches.
- Varying levels of security in employee-owned devices.
- Managing access control.
A survey2 also revealed that most employees engage in risky behavior on personal mobile devices.
That’s a lot to worry about—yet with the right security protocols, you can execute a BYOD environment in the workplace.
Let’s cover 10 simple strategies in detail.
1. Implement Mobile Device Management (MDM)
By integrating BYOD with MDM solutions, IT professionals can enforce robust security policies across all personal devices used at work. It creates a standardized security posture regardless of device type or operating system.
MDM allows for remote configuration of device settings to enhance security, including:
- The ability to remotely wipe data from lost or stolen devices
- The enforcement of strong password policies
- Automatic device locking
MDM solutions streamline the management of software updates and patches, ensuring all devices are protected against the latest cyber threats. They also facilitate the secure distribution of work applications, allowing for the segregation of work and personal data, which is paramount in maintaining data integrity and user privacy. With these capabilities, MDM becomes an indispensable tool for organizations aiming to keep risks as close to zero as possible.
2. Use Mobile Application Management (MAM) for Work Apps
MAM allows IT departments to deploy, update, and manage work applications independently of personal apps. The result? IT teams can sleep better at night, knowing that company data within these apps remains secure.
MAM administrators enforce security policies at the application level. This feature is particularly crucial in a BYOD environment where your North Star is maintaining the balance between user privacy and data security.
For instance, in case of device loss or theft or an employee leaving the organization, MAM enables remote wiping of work applications and data without affecting personal content on the device, protecting user privacy and your corporate assets.
MAM also provides valuable insights into application performance and usage, helping organizations optimize their mobile work environment for efficiency and productivity.
3. Consolidate BYOD With Unified Endpoint Management (UEM)
UEM simplifies the complex task of securing and overseeing many device types and operating systems.
UEM gives IT administrators control over security policies, applications, and data security across all devices. The result? A uniform security posture and user experience.
UEM capabilities extend to remote configuration and troubleshooting. Employees can maintain productivity without compromising security, regardless of location or device.
UEM’s integrated reporting and analytics tools provide valuable insights into device usage and security, which can help improve BYOD policies and practices.
Additionally, UEM’s alignment with identity and access management (IAM) solutions guarantees that only authorized individuals can access sensitive corporate resources.
4. Use Virtual Private Networks and Multi-Factor Authentication
Organizations must guarantee that only authorized individuals can access sensitive information. The reason behind it all? Access is protected against both insider and cyber threats.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) help create a secure tunnel between the user’s device and the company’s servers. In technical terms, any data transmitted is encrypted and protected from interception.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds a layer of security by requiring users to verify their identity through multiple means before gaining access to company data.
Such practices significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and adhere to the principle of least privilege.
Organizations should check access logs regularly to see if there are any problems or unauthorized access attempts. That way, they can quickly respond if needed.
In addition to ensuring proper identity management and authorization practices to control access, you must have an AWS s3 backup strategy for cloud-based storage services.
The cloud helps store large sets of data, but the last thing you want is to lose everything during a system failure. It’s a simple insurance policy to protect your most valuable data.
5. Perform Regular Security Audits and Compliance Checks
Audits and checks empower IT professionals to assess the effectiveness of current BYOD policies and security measures. The goal? To ensure the organization aligns with industry best practices and regulatory requirements.
During a security audit, every aspect of the BYOD infrastructure is scrutinized—from the devices to the networks they connect to and the data they access. This comprehensive examination identifies potential vulnerabilities and gaps in security that malicious actors might exploit.
Compliance checks are equally crucial in ensuring an organization’s BYOD practices adhere to relevant laws and regulations.
6. Provide Adequate IT Support for BYOD Users
Do your employees have the necessary resources and assistance to navigate BYOD challenges?
Help desks for BYOD-related inquiries can help organizations minimize downtime and maintain productivity. This specialized support team should be well-versed in managing a BYOD program.
Self-service portals can further enhance the support experience. It allows users to easily access troubleshooting guides, FAQs, and other resources to resolve common issues independently.
These portals also facilitate device registration and onboarding, streamlining administrative tasks for IT staff.
Proactive communication is key, with IT support keeping users informed about best practices, security updates, and any potential issues that might affect their devices.
7. Monitor Device and Network Activity
Another proactive approach to keeping devices secure on the company’s network is having safeguards that swiftly detect and resolve irregularities and security threats.
Monitoring tools help organizations track device behavior, network access patterns, and data usage, creating a comprehensive overview of the BYOD ecosystem.
This not only aids in detecting malicious activities such as unauthorized access or data exfiltration but also helps identify any performance issues, ensuring the network remains efficient and reliable.
Setting up automated alerts for specific events, such as repeated login failures or unusual data transfers, increases security and makes it possible to respond to potential threats quickly.
You can also unlock valuable insights informing BYOD policies and best practices. Remember, any monitoring practice must strike a balance between employee privacy and enterprise security.
8. Facilitate Easy Device Onboarding and Offboarding
New employees should be able to quickly integrate their personal devices into the work environment while keeping company data secure when an employee departs.
Simplifying the onboarding process encourages compliance with company policies, as users can:
- Access work-related applications with minimal hassle
- Install necessary security measures
- Easily register their devices
Clear guidelines and automated workflows can aid in this process, providing step-by-step instructions and reducing the burden on IT staff.
When it comes to offboarding, it’s crucial to ensure that all company data is completely and securely removed from an employee’s personal device while leaving their personal data intact.
This process requires robust mobile device management tools capable of selective wiping and clear protocols to trigger the offboarding process promptly (when necessary).
Overall, easy device onboarding and offboarding results in employee satisfaction, giving them a reason to comply strictly with BYOD policies.
9. Develop a Clear BYOD Policy
Unclear security expectations open the door to cyber threats and attacks.
A comprehensive and easy-to-understand BYOD policy should be part of your corporate policies list as it is the foundation of a secure and efficient device management strategy.
If you’re a small business that doesn’t know where to start with your BYOD policy, check out these five best practices.
A clear and well-communicated BYOD policy aids in setting expectations, preventing misunderstandings, and reducing the risk of security breaches.
Don’t forget to review and update the policy regularly to ensure it remains relevant.
10. Implement Green BYOD Device Management
Embracing BYOD in the workplace signifies a pivotal shift toward flexibility, cost savings, and enhanced productivity, reflecting the evolving dynamics of our work today.
Today, employees actively seek to work for organizations that focus on sustainability. For example, according to a study4, 7 in 10 workers agree they’re more likely to stay with an employer that prioritizes environmental sustainability.
Fortunately, organizations can balance secure device management and data center sustainability by implementing virtualization, energy-efficient hardware, and proactive monitoring.
The result is a responsible and forward-thinking approach to modern IT practices.
Plus, efficiently managing BYOD devices bolsters security and productivity and contributes to a greener approach by reducing the carbon footprint of data centers.
Wrapping Up
There are challenges with integrating personal devices into the corporate sphere, like security. However, using some of the strategies highlighted in this blog can help you confidently tackle these complexities.
Organizations can strike the perfect balance by investing in robust device management solutions, ensuring secure access to company data, and fostering a culture of accountability through clear policies. One that empowers their workforce, safeguards assets, and paves the way for a future where BYOD thrives.
Contact our experts to know more. Sign up for a 14-day free trial.
Here’s to your BYOD success with Scalefusion MDM.
Reference:
1. Lifeline Data Centers
2. TechRepublic
3. Growth Hackers
4. IBM
