Mobile devices make up about 60% of the endpoints in a company network. They also handle about 80% of the workload.
But they’re often neglected when it comes to strong cybersecurity measures. This is especially true with employee-owned mobile devices.
Purchasing phones and wireless plans for staff is often out of reach financially. It can also be a pain for employees to carry around two different devices.
This has made BYOD the preferred way to go by about 83% of companies. Here are some tips to overcome the security and challenges of BYOD.
Define your BYOD policy
If there are no defined rules for BYOD then you can’t expect the process to be secure.
Employees may leave business data unprotected. Or they may connect to public Wi-Fi and then enter their business email password, exposing it.
If you allow employees to access business data from personal devices, you need a policy. This policy protects the company from unnecessary risk.
Keep your policy “evergreen”
As soon as a policy gets outdated, it becomes less relevant to employees. Thus, they may tend to ignore it. Make sure to update your BYOD policy regularly.
Use VoIP apps for business calls
Customers having employees’ personal numbers is a problem for everyone. Employees may leave the company and no longer answer those calls. The customer may not realize why.
You can avoid the issue by using a business VoIP phone system. These services have mobile apps that employees can use. VoIP mobile apps allow employees to make and receive calls through a business number.
Create restrictions on saved company data
No matter what the type of device, you should maintain control of business data. It’s a good idea to restrict the types of data that staff can store on personal devices. You should also ensure that it’s backed up from those devices.
Require device updates
When employee devices are not updated or patched, they invite a data breach. Any endpoint connected to your network can enable a breach. This includes those owned by employees.
An endpoint device manager can push through automated updates. It also allows you to protect business data without intruding on employee privacy.
Include BYOD in your offboarding process
If an employee leaves your company, you need to clean their digital trail. Is the employee still receiving work email on their phone? Do they have access to company data? Are any saved company passwords on their device?
Make sure you check all this during offboarding.