Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD, can also be referred to as BYOT (bring your own technology), BYOP (bring your own phone), or BYOPC (bring your own personal computer). These terms refer to the policy of allowing employees to bring personally owned devices such as laptops and phones into the working environment.

The Benefits

For the employer, BYOD can mean increased employee morale, higher productivity, and reduced hardware costs.

The Security Risk

However, BYOD has a significant impact on the security of the internal business network. You are potentially adding unmanaged and unpatched devices directly onto your corporate network.

BYOD is great, but only if it has been set up correctly from the start. Failing to do so can cause your business to lose money, time, and reputation.

How to Implement BYOD Safely

A well-implemented BYOD policy typically includes:

• Mobile Device Management (MDM) to enforce security policies on personal devices
• Network segmentation to keep personal devices on a separate VLAN from business systems
• Acceptable use policies with clear rules for employees
• Remote wipe capability in case a device is lost or an employee leaves

Module IT can help you design and implement a BYOD policy that balances flexibility with security. Get in touch to find out more.