Understanding IT Security And BYOD Policies

In the digital age, it is evident that almost everyone is greatly dependent on technology in order for them to accomplish their daily tasks. This prevailing trend drove employees to demand the consent of employers to use personal devices for business purposes.

Although the implementation of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy has its own benefits, it also has its drawbacks. That’s why if you want to implement the BYOD policy in your business, you have to see to it that you know how to work around the security concerns that come with it. Once you learn this, you will be able to maximize the policy without compromising your company’s cybersecurity.

10 BYOD Concerns for Business Organizations

Over the years, the implementation of BYOD policies has been highly discouraged by IT consulting services experts because of the evolving sophistication of cybersecurity threats. Even so, there are instances when employers deem it necessary for employees to use their own devices for work reasons. Because of this, it’s important for companies to learn how to overcome the security concerns that arise alongside BYOD policies.

To give you an overview, here are the top 10 business concerns you need to consider before implementing BYOD policies in your business:

1. Data Security

One of the concerns that you need to consider before you carry out BYOD policies in your business is data security. To begin with, it’s difficult for businesses to protect and manage the company data that move around the organization. When you add an employee’s personal device to the picture, you make things worse. If you want to ensure the security of your data, it is recommended by experts that you encrypt the portion of the device where your important data resides. Through this, you’ll be able to get the peace of mind that the business data on your employee’s device is secure.

2. Records Management

Without any doubt, BYOD policies enable businesses to access and create business-related data easily. But alongside this business perk is the prevailing challenge of monitoring the company data that are accessed by the employee’s personal phone. For this reason, records management became one of the business concerns that rose up with BYOD policies. Once you manage your records properly, it is guaranteed that you’ll be able to govern your company data on new devices effectively. Furthermore, it will also help business owners get the peace of mind that their data is secure.

3. Legal Holds and eDiscovery

When you’re running a business, it’s fundamental that you’re aware that the documents created, revised, or read on an employee’s device are subject to legal hold and discovery. This just shows that if you implement BYOD policies in your company, your employees’ personal devices may become subject to legal hold when you are a target of regulatory action.

This situation has caused numerous data management problems in several cases. In order to avoid this, you should see to it that the BYOD policy you implement is clear on how this will be handled. By doing that, you will be able to make sure that your company is capable of preserving and producing all of its electronically stored data under its control.

4. Device Control

Before executing a BYOD policy in your company, it is advised by professionals that you install a specific list of software first. By doing that, you will enable your company to perform remote monitoring, remote wipe capabilities, and records management prior to storing business data in personal devices. Moreover, this will also help you protect the business data that is stored in these devices in the event they get lost or stolen.

5. Policy Control

Apart from the ones mentioned above, another business concern that you should look into when you implement BYOD is your business’ policy control. Every wise business owner knows that device policy and procedures are two of the many important things in a BYOD working environment. That’s why it is vital that the BYOD policy you carry out indicates the systems and data that your employees’ devices can access. Furthermore, it is also a must that these policies require employees to report lost or stolen devices immediately. By doing that, organizations will be able to carry out the appropriate actions that should be taken.

6. Employee Privacy

Along with the prevailing need to implement a BYOD policy that can safeguard your company data, is the necessity to protect the privacy of your employees as well. In other words, it is essential that the BYOD policy you carry out stipulates a required amount of access allowed to the personal data of your employees. With that said, it is crucial that you address this concern before you integrate the policy in your workplace.

7. Data Backup

In the present time, it is a prevalent practice in the business world to install cloud backup solutions on the employees’ company devices. Through this, organizations give themselves the power to avoid the damaging consequences of data loss and data alteration. If you want to implement a BYOD policy in your business, you should see to it that you install a cloud-based storage system beforehand. That way you’ll be able to ensure that your company data’s backup process is effective.

8. Termination Policy

While it’s essential that you protect your company from cybercriminals, you should also see to it that you are cautious of the people that leave your organization. Regardless if they leave as a result of termination or on amicable terms, they can be a threat to your company’s data security—especially when their personal device is full of business data.

It is a well-known fact that preventing a former employee’s access to your company’s systems and documents can take up time. Because of this, it is paramount to have a clear termination policy in place to deal with this kind of situation before you implement a BYOD policy.

9. BYOD Plan Acceptance

In order to ensure the preservation of your business’ data and trade secrets, it is fundamental that you have a written version of the BYOD plan you intend to implement. Furthermore, it is also every organization’s responsibility to secure written proof of their employees’ acceptance of the BYOD policy. With that said, the BYOD plan acceptance is certainly one of the business concerns you should look into if you want to make the most of this policy.

10. Training

One way that you can ensure that your company policies are properly followed is through comprehensive training and refresher courses. When you take the time to teach your employees how the BYOD policy works, you’ll be able to make sure that they are well-informed about the rules and procedures they should abide by. Once they understand the BYOD policy’s relevance to your company, your staff are more likely to create well-informed decisions as they make use of their personal devices for your business activities.

As you can see, the imposition of Bring Your Own Device policies in organizations has the capacity to give rise to several business concerns. Although this is true, taking note of these 10 BYOD policy concerns can be your first step towards the success of the program. When you are well-knowledgeable about these concerns, you’ll be able to work around them with ease—most especially if you seek the help of managed IT services in the Philippines like House of I.T.

10 Ways to Improve BYOD Policies with Managed IT Services

Now that you’re aware of the business concerns you should look into before you enjoy the benefits of BYOD policies, it’s time for you to know how to maximize its potential. The best way that you can accomplish this is by seeking the assistance of experts from managed services. With their help, you’ll be able to deal with the major concerns that come with the BYOD policies.

Here is a list of tips that you should keep in mind so that you can shape your business’ BYOD policy:

• Require Employees to Use Passwords On Personal Devices

Usually, passwords serve as the first layer of protection for devices. Although many people know that the utilization of passwords on personal devices is necessary, its importance is often overlooked by individuals. With the help of managed services, you’ll be able to generate strong passwords that employees can use to protect their personal devices from data theft.

• Control The Personal Devices’ Connectivity to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Devices

Many security breaches today happen when devices connect to an unsecured network. That’s the exact reason why it’s highly recommended by experts that business organizations control the connectivity of their employees’ personal devices to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices. By doing this, business owners will be able to get the peace of mind that the devices employees use for business purposes are only connected to trusted networks. The expertise of IT professionals will also enable organizations to implement the right policies to protect their data security.

• Manage The Permissions of Device Applications

When it comes to businesses, it is a must for business owners to ensure that their employees can only access information that’s necessary for them to function. This can be done by managing the permissions of your employee device’s applications. The best way to configure these permissions is with the help of an IT security team.

• Keep All Operating Systems and Software Updated

It is a renowned fact all around the world how new versions of operating systems and software can help employees safeguard their devices from new security threats. For this reason, it is important for users to keep their devices updated regularly.

• Enforce Data Recovery Procedures

Another way managed services can help you improve your company’s BYOD policy is by ensuring data redundancy through the cloud storage solutions they offer. With their assistance, companies will be able to enforce data recovery procedures in case a device gets lost, broken, or stolen.

• Enroll Devices in A Device Locator and Remote Wipe Service

When you acquire the services of outsourced IT professionals, it will be easier for you to enroll your devices in device locators and remote wipe services. With their help, you’ll be able to keep the potential security breaches to a minimum while you look for the location of your lost mobile devices or wipe out the information stored in them remotely.

• Carry Out a Policy to Never Store Financial Data On a Device

Other than the ones mentioned, managed services can also help you improve your BYOD policy by implementing rules that discourage users from storing financial data on their devices. Whether the data belongs to your customers or employees, it should be kept confidential and off your device to ensure your data’s security.

• Refrain from Installing Free Applications

Most often than not, free applications have reduced security measures. That’s why it is recommended by experts that employees steer clear of free applications including free anti-virus software. If it’s necessary to install them, then allow your IT experts to review the apps first before installing them. That way you’ll be able to ensure that it is secure to make use of these free applications.

• Implement Anti-Virus Software On All Devices

It is undeniable that there are many ways experts can help you protect your personal device from common threats. With their skills and expertise, business owners are enabled to implement effective anti-virus software on all their employees’ devices.

• Secure Devices by Using a Mobile Device Management Software

If you want to implement uniform security setting across all your organization’s connected devices, it’s is advised by professionals that you make use of mobile device management software. With this software and your company’s outsourced IT team, you’ll be able to make changes easily in an effective manner.