Nothing is worse than setting up a BYOD program that fails. Don’t allow that to happen to you! Take your time to do things well. Establishing a successful BYOD program requires certain tips which you should consider.
If you are unfamiliar with the term “Bring Your Own Device” (or BYOD), it is a developing trend in which staffs use their personal devices to access their company’s network infrastructure.
There are several benefits to having a BYOD Program since it allows employees to utilize a device with which they are already familiar. BYOD provides firms with a less expensive option to acquire and provide work-specific devices to all their workers. Instead, it enables employees to access the business network, apps, and other resources from their own devices, either locally or remotely.
87% of companies rely on their employees’ ability to access business apps via their personal devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.). This pressure may make you wonder about the keys to implementing a BYOD program and how you can effectively apply it. These suggestions should be part of any excellent Bring Your Own Device program (BYOD).
Tips to Help You Implement a Successful BYOD Program.
When developing a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy, the goal is usually to strive for a mix of security, usability, and privacy. According to experience, effective BYOD programs achieve this balance, whereas employees rarely embrace those that fall short. Here are a few tips for developing a successful BYOD program.
Create Guidelines for Personal Device System Access and Data Security
When personal devices are connected to business systems and data, it is necessary to specify who has access to those systems and how your data is accessed. It would help if you ensured this is done securely to limit risk and guarantee that the devices accessing this information comply with set standards.
However, if you do not give adequate access and security, your employees will have a negative experience, leading to lower adoption or open mutiny. You must sometimes restrict access depending on certain factors. It might be challenging to draft a policy that covers every eventuality since it would be too expensive and difficult to administer and apply.
These kinds of complications are best reflected in guidelines. Guidelines give an overview of your policy and advice on how to respond in each case. Guidelines, unlike standard operating procedures, do not need necessary actions. Instead, guidelines are a series of guiding instructions.
Create strict guidelines for personal devices, for example,
- Ensure that personal devices have the most recent system updates and fixes.
- Restriction of jailbroken devices.
- A password to access the device is required.
- Responsibilities regarding initial and ongoing expenditures are specified.
- The employee is responsible for backing up personal information, systems, and media.
Establish an Employee Exit Strategy.
Consider what will happen if employees who use your BYOD platform quit the organization. How can you make access tokens, email access, data, and other proprietary apps and information disappear?
It’s not as simple as asking the employee to return the company phone. Many organizations prefer to disable email or synchronization access during the leave interview, while more security-conscious firms choose to erase business data from the BYOD-enabled device as an obligatory leaving plan.
Before this “exit wipe,” you should have a clear approach for avoiding the user’s personal images and privately acquired programs. Proactively reach out to affected users to assist them in participating in this process.
Maintain Frequent Data Backups
If your device is stolen or corporate information is compromised or mistakenly destroyed. The last thing you would like to worry about here is losing all of your data. Regular backups are critical to any company’s BYOD program.
Provide Thorough BYOD Policy Training
You may put in all the security controls and directives you want, but employees will mostly use their devices as they like. The best method to avoid cybersecurity attacks or data breaches is to provide your employees with intensive training. Clearly define what is permissible use and what potential hazards they may face. Training will provide employees with the information and skills they need to operate their BYOD devices efficiently and safely.
Get it Right. Involve a Professional!
A BYOD program will be a significant task for you to carry out on your own. It’s worth seeking professional consultation to assist you in executing the program, overseeing it, or just getting a second view of what you’re planning to accomplish. It will be exceedingly disruptive, not to mention expensive, to “retreat” on a BYOD Program thanks to implementation challenges or a lack of security.
Get it done the first time correctly. B-Comp Services can assist you in developing and implementing a safe, productive BYOD program for your business. Contact us to get started.
