There’s still time to implement BYOD this year

The year is more than half done, and there is still time to implement initiatives to keep your business moving.

In fact, organizations of all sizes are expecting to see more ransomware attempts, as well as digital currency scams trying to steal an owner’s unique passcode or stealing computing power for currency mining in years to come. Plus, there is the new EU legislation, that went into effect May 2018, which require that websites change how they collate, store and transmit personally identifiable data.

More of your employees bring their device to work

When dealing with all these high-profile cyber threats and laws, we can often underestimate the dangers that may be lurking right under our noses. I am talking about the risk associated with the impressive uptake in BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) in small-to-medium-sized organizations.

Don’t get me wrong, BYOD is a legitimately attractive option for growing firms. The company saves on the cost and maintenance of hardware devices. Employees are more comfortable with personalized devices and operating systems. Many of us sure remember the days of carrying two phones – one for personal and one for business. I bet some of you still carry more than one laptop when traveling!

But while BYOD saves on expenditure and keeps staff happy, the darker underbelly of BYOD needs to be examined and addressed to ensure it does not introduce inappropriate risk to business operations.

IT teams around the world have seen a tremendous uptick in responsibilities, a good chunk of which is due to BYOD. Ensuring each OS version of every app is updated, properly configured, and meets the security criteria for your organization takes much more skill and effort. On top of ensuring the app is secure, IT folk must also make sure each app is fully accessible by authorized users at all times.

You’d be forgiven for wanting to simply hide and weather the storm, but with the right guidance, resources, and tools, you can vastly simplify the task of implementing a secure and flexible BYOD strategy.

It is time to take control of BYOD

The experts at GFI Security have pulled together a very useful guide with 10 expert tips to ensure you’re covered when it comes to introducing a secure BYOD strategy, specially designed for start-ups and growing organizations.

For example, one recommendation from GFI Security is to secure buy-in from the senior stakeholders. In other words, get executive support. These are the people that can impact your resources, budget, and strategies. By ensuring you have a regular seat at the proverbial table to explain – in business terms – the benefits of a clear and concise security policy, you are effectively greasing the wheels for an effective BYOD strategy roll-out.

The guide also provides guidance on creating a security strategy, dealing with multiple vendors, risk assessments, vulnerability scans, penetration tests and more.

See for yourself. Download GFI Software’s free guide “SMBs keep your sensitive data safe with a BYOD policy that works”.