The demand for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) arrangements in companies has increased over the recent years, especially during the COVID-19 phase. Employee satisfaction and increased productivity are the reasons why companies today are opting for BYOD. 

In a study by CRN, it is also derived that BYOD not only results in employee satisfaction but also fosters better productivity, creativity, innovation, increased morale and better collaboration.

BYOD has become a new standard in workplace technology and IT infrastructure with over 30% of companies across the world already implementing this practice. While it is a great deal for both employers and employees, it poses some serious security threats for the organization which include data breach, phishing, data leakage, malware injection, unauthorized access, introducing unpatched devices to network, etc. 

In order to function properly and mitigate these security threats, organizations will have to employ the right security platforms which help in securing these devices across multiple networks, locations and user-level access.

Here are the 5 ways you can mitigate security risks in BYOD by employing security platforms:

1. Define Acceptable Usage Policy In The Platform

In addition to the security and data management training for employees, your organization should also define a clear usage policy in the security platform that restricts and provides a layer of authentication based on the user access level. This can be as simple as the applications that are used and the ones which should not be used while connected to the VPN.

2. Employee Mobile Device Management (MDM)

MDM is the first step in setting up security for BYOD devices. MDM basically provides a layer of security to the company data by bifurcating the personal and organization’s data while working in conjunction with the Network Access Control. With MDM in place, organizations are equipped with the ability to manage devices, wipe business data, separate personal and company contacts, etc.

3. Secure Your Organization’s Network

In most of the cases, organizations suffer a huge loss when hackers get into their network or get access to the data through an unsecured device. This can be avoided by defining a clear set of rules, automating security updates and tightening authentication (Ex: 2FA) in the security platform. This enables organizations to not only secure the access but also provide an extra layer of security to the existing firewall set up in the servers or network.

4. Implement Data Access Control

Modern access control systems are a must for organizations with BYOD setup. Since the devices are used in different networks and under uncontrolled environments, it is vulnerable to data leakage. A security platform provides the ability to limit access to their data based on predefined rules around user level, location, device IP, employee roles, etc. which not only secures the data but also ensures that the right person gets access to the right assets from the right location on defined devices.

5. Enable Remote Wipe abilities

Every security system today needs to have remote wipe feature. This is a protective ability that ensures that in case of property theft or compromised systems, the business data and files can be remotely removed by administrators. This also becomes very essential for companies to protect their data in cases of insider threats, data leakage and forceful implementations.

Security systems today are evolving to support the dynamic changes experienced in the working conditions and changing norms in the functioning of organizations. Looking out for these features and implementing the right rules can protect your business data in real-time and mitigate the security risks easily.

Using the right tools, it is easier for organizations to deal with growing challenges and security concerns around BYOD and work from home setup. Employing the right contextually aware platforms helps not only in securing the network, but also helps in minimizing the complications involved in the setup and maintenance.

If you are looking for an enterprise security with abilities to provide end-point security, data access control, managed network abilities and more, consider CACHATTO for your business. 

You can schedule a free demo with our expert to learn more about the product or sign up for a free trial here.