How to Create a Bring Your Own Device Policy (BYOD)
By Robert Blake
Allowing employees to use their own devices in the workplace is a great way to boost productivity. Smartphones, laptops, and numerous tablets are just a few of the different devices used to perform work-related activities. While using these devices is convenient for your team, they can also create significant security risks. Working with an IT service provider to implement a bring-your-own-device policy (BYOD) for your business can help create a much safer environment.
Here is how managed IT services can develop a BYOD plan that best meets the needs of your company.
Educate Your Team
Cybersecurity incidents can happen in a variety of ways. These incidents can result in substantial costs and many hours of downtime for your business. A managed service provider can take a proactive approach to IT security by educating your employees about these threats. Keeping your team well-informed can help them avoid becoming the victim of a cyber attack while they are using their devices in the office.
Develop an IT Security Policy
Establishing IT security policies is a key part of any BYOD plan. These policies cover many topics, such as setting up strong passwords, implementing cybersecurity software, and managing data backups. Creating a remote wipe policy is also important if a device is ever lost or stolen. An IT service provider can work closely with your team in setting additional safeguards while meeting the various compliance requirements for different industries.
Implement Mobile Device Management Software
Mobile device management allows the IT team to configure each device to meet specific requirements. A managed service provider can easily monitor these devices while also keeping them up to date with the latest patches. Using mobile device management makes it possible to automatically create data backups and scan for any potential vulnerabilities to ensure each device remains secure.
Require Two-Factor Authentication
Company accounts without two-factor authentication can easily be hacked by cybercriminals. Requiring all of your employees to use two-factor authentication for each company account provides a much greater level of protection. An IT service provider can make sure that each account is protected with two-factor authentication while also verifying that the phone numbers and email addresses are up to date for each employee.
Create an Easy Sign-Up Process
Making your BYOD program easy for your employees to use is important in keeping everything simple while helping them stay compliant. On the other hand, requiring your employees to follow too many steps to enroll in a BYOD program can lead to numerous mistakes. A managed service provider can help your employees sign-up for this policy to keep track of all the devices used in the workplace.
Closing Thoughts
Using devices in the offices provides employees with much greater flexibility, and it can even save businesses money by not having to invest in expensive hardware. Working with an IT service provider to develop a BYOD policy is a necessity in keeping your devices safe against all types of cyber threats. These IT professionals can create a detailed security policy for your employees while keeping them up to date with the latest attacks. Implementing mobile device management and requiring two-factor authentication for each device will also create a much more secure environment for everyone.
