Last updated on July 7th, 2024 at 10:50 am
Allowing employees to use their own devices for work can save a lot of money, but it also introduces serious cyber security concerns.
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It is easy to see why so many enterprises are starting their own bring your own device (BYOD) policy for staff because it can bring a handful of benefits. When staff use their own computers, smartphones and laptops for work-related purposes, it can help to save the company a huge amount in IT costs. Not only this but it can boost productivity because these are devices that they are comfortable with, and it also makes remote working much easier amongst many other benefits. It can also be a complex area and it is essential that a BYOD policy is in place to establish rules relating to support and usage. Here are a few must-know tips for starting a BYOD policy.
1. Outline Allowed Devices
A BYOD policy should always outline what devices you will support and allow an employee to use along with what corporate-issued devices will be available. This is important because there are many different types of device available in today’s day and age.
2. Make Security A Priority
One of the biggest concerns for businesses when it comes to BYOD is security because often people will not have as stringent security for personal devices, and they will be using them outside of the workplace which is a huge risk when there is sensitive data on the device. Therefore, you need to make sure that there are rules in place regarding security, including using complex passwords and rules for usage in public.
3. Install Endpoint Security Systems
Following this, it is essential that you have endpoint security systems from specialists like www.mcafee.com in place on all devices in order to protect the company, employee and customer data from the latest cyber security threats. Threats are becoming more advanced, so it is essential that you have high-quality protection in place for safe device usage and peace of mind.
4. Have A Blacklist For Certain Apps & Websites
There may be certain apps which you do not want to be installed or websites visited on a device that is used for work-related purposes and this could be for security or professional reasons. You need to create a blacklist for these apps to ensure that employees know what is and what is not allowed on their devices.
5. Use Compliance Monitoring
It is important to have a process in place so that you can review BYOD each month to make sure that staff are being compliant, that devices are being used safely and how much data is being used. Making this a regular occurrence will help you to identify any issues relating to BYOD and find improvements.
6. Set Up An Exit Plan
Finally, you must also have an exit plan in place for when an employee leaves the company. This will include disabling company emails, wiping devices of sensitive data, and changing passwords to company accounts during the exit interview.
BYOD Policy: Final Thoughts
There are many benefits to BYOD and it should certainly be considered by business owners; however, it can also be a complex area to manage and so you will need a robust policy in place which will help staff to know how they can use their devices.
Kirk is a writer who specializes in dissemination of cyber security information & news.
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