What Business Owners Need to Know About BYOD?

BYOD or Bring Your Own Device is a trend among modern workplaces. Employers sometimes impose BYOD policies that require their employees to purchase a device to perform a certain task. Also, some businesses use it as a way to cut corners when the budget is tight. But is it a safe move for business owners? Are there risks with BYOD? In this post, we discussed some of the benefits and possible risks of the policy.

The Benefits

There’s no denying that BYOD is beneficial for both the employer and the employee. It’s convenient and it allows the employee to work more comfortably on his or her own gadget. Here are some of BYOD’s advantages:

*It’s a money-saver – Employers who don’t have the budget yet for expensive hardware can tap the help of their employees through a BYOD policy. Some would give incentives and other perks to encourage the employees to try the BYOD setup. The employer is also not liable for the maintenance of the device.

*Better employee engagement – BYOD imbibes a personal touch to the workplace. Employees are more comfortable and “at home” with their own device. It encourages them to communicate outside of the office or work even if they can’t physically report to the workplace.

*Reduced IT demand – Since the employee is in charge of his or her device’s maintenance, you can save time and money from additional IT resources. Also, you can channel your IT resources to a much bigger project, say boosting your business’ cybersecurity.

*It’s ideal for employees who travel a lot – For employees who are traveling a lot for work, BYOD policies are convenient. The person doesn’t have to worry about damaging the device since it’s his or her own property.

The Risks

Of course, like any policy, BYOD has its share of downsides. Here are some of the aspects that business owners should look into:

*Security issues– The most significant concern about BYOD is that business owners don’t have control over the activities that happen within the device, except if they have an intensive network security. Malware can be elaborately or inadvertently transferred to the system during the use of the device.

*Stolen passwords – Allowing your employees to bring their own devices and use it for work means they can access passwords and other confidential information.

*Data breach – Of all the possible risk of BYOD, a data breach is the worst-case scenario. Inside jobs happen and it could be easily done with the help of a BYOD policy. If you don’t pair your BYOD policy with a stringent cybersecurity measure, it’s nothing but a counterproductive move.

The Verdict

Allowing employees to bring their own device is a cost-efficient decision as long as you know how to mitigate the risks. Businesses who handle sensitive and confidential information should have clear agreements and contracts in place. This way, you can put the person accountable if a data breach takes place.

Malware detectors for both mobile and computer devices are a good start. If you want a stronger defense, you can outsource your cybersecurity needs to a trustworthy provider.