Today, technology has created a flexible working environment where employees can work from anywhere. Remote working is fast becoming a critical way for businesses to scale and remain competitive.

To facilitate remote working, employees need gadgets. However, providing laptops, tablets, or smartphones for each employee can be costly especially for small businesses and startups.

To counter the costs involved, many companies are opting for the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy. While it is a cost-saving strategy, there are risks involved as seen below.

Stolen or Lost Devices

Many of the gadgets your employees use on the go are lightweight and portable which makes them vulnerable to theft or getting lost. In the event of loss, expert hackers can navigate through the gadget’s locking passwords and encrypted data to access the information therein.

Employees Departing from the Company Abruptly

When employees resign suddenly, deleting any traces of company data becomes impossible. This exposes company data to unapproved access.

Inadequate Security Updates

Not everyone understands the importance of security updates.  Employee’s gadgets should have the latest firewall or antivirus updates. Gadgets with old software can easily be hacked, leading to company data exposure.

Unsecured Wi-Fi

By working remotely, employees may have to access unprotected Wi-Fi networks to execute their tasks. Hackers may have access to company data via unprotected Wi-Fi networks.

How to Gain from BYOD in the Workplace

Companies can gain from the bring your own device policy by:

• Adopting clear policies about the use of personal gadgets. Define how far the IT department can go in terms of monitoring personal gadget, and where or when to use the is work appropriate
• Laying down boundaries. Many employees will not want their employers to have access to their personal information on their phones. Discuss and determine what the company can access.

Securing Personal Devices for Official Use

To ensure that personal devices are secure for work use:

Ensure Employees Can Access Tools With Ease

Have an archive of approved tools for your company complete with user-friendly instructions. The company can then organize monthly meetings where the employees bring their devices – with the help of the company IT experts – to encrypt private data and install anti-malware.

Ensure Employees Understand Basic Device Safety Hygiene

Teach your employees how they can safeguard their gadgets through maintaining updated operating system patches, using strong passwords, and being able to wipe stolen devices. While these things are easy to do, many employees do not prioritize the security of their gadgets.

All employees should be adequately trained on the importance of gadget security.

Avoid Storing Business Data on Mobile Devices

Remember, employees will not surrender their personal devices once they stop working for you. Ensure that the work applications your employees use don’t store information on their devices. This makes it easier for you to discontinue access to your company data without accessing personal devices.

Finally

As technology advances and more employees work remotely, companies should ensure stringent policies are in place to protect corporate data. Educating employees on the importance of securing their devices helps maintain a secure working environment.