Enhancing Small Businesses: Know More About the BYOD Security Tips

Introduction

To go ahead in the competitive race, every company needs its potent employees. Paying more attention to improve their workability will give bright results. Moreover, it works as a strong source to differentiate yourself from others. But small businesses find difficulties in satisfying the asset requirements of the employees. That’s why BYOD came as a middle way to handle this situation. 

The BYOD market will hit $367 billion by 2022, up from $30 billion in 2014. It gives freedom to the employees to use their own system to complete their work from any location and at any time. It works as a true source to enhance their productivity and work-life balance. Using your own device can improve working efficiency and comfortableness.      

When you allow workers to use their smartphones, laptop, tablets, add security rules. It will help to develop a win-win situation for small businesses by using the BYOD concept. It gives flexibility to the employees and gives financial relief to the company.   

This article will showcase the possible security tips to use the BYOD policy. It safeguards the working structure of the organization. Let’s look into it.

Ways To Improve BYOD Security In Small Business

With the evolution of the BYOD concept, the security concern for using it is also increasing. But due to the availability of a few tips, you can develop a secure culture for your business workability. They are as shown below- 

1. Password Is The Key Locking Feature

Unauthorized access is the prime reason that affects the security of the data. So, the first aspect that you must enforce in your policy is password protection. It develops the first layer to keep your data secured.

Set the login credentials that are strong, unique, and alphanumeric. It reduces the chances of theft. You may think of it as a primary step that every business considers. But yet many firms are there, which ignores the importance of this stage.

Allow password protection and change it at a specified period. It helps in reducing the chances of data breaches. Also, you can impart multi-factor authentication to provide extra safety. It secures the critical applications and data of the firm.

2. Ensure To Give A Big Cross Mark To Unauthorized Networks

Major cases of data breaches occur due to using other networks that are not authorized. Free wifi network connections are often the significant source for data leaking. Refer to the statistics below that shows a considerable occurrence of such event-

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Employees must use only the trusted networks for performing their work. File transferring or working on important business operations; security is a primary concern. Every employee should consider it seriously. Because if it gets out, it badly damages the company’s image. A study conducted by CSIRO found that about 38% of free Android VPNs contain malware. In this ExpressVPN review, security experts emphasized that using paid VPN services from any of the top rated providers should be a priority for companies of all sizes. Separate network access and performing verification are essential steps for secure connectivity.

3. Keep Your System Up-to-date

At regular intervals, maintenance becomes the indeed need of every digital device. Patches and updates not only add new features to the system but also enhance the level of security. Companies should ensure that the software and the applications workers use remain updated. 

While performing operations of your organization, you use the best HR management solution. Why? The answer is to improve the complete efficiency of the employee-related processes.  But do you use it without ensuring system healthiness? The answer will be a big no. The same case applies to all the devices used in your office premises by the employees.     

Inform workers not to ever forget to miss out on the notification that comes for updating the system. You can either automate it or can set a specific period so that it does not affect your working schedule. Installing new versions will improve the working efficiency and give protection against threats.

4. Embargo The Use Of Unnecessary Applications

Diverse applications available that do not need even a bit in the working process. In the BYOD concept, there are reasons for prohibiting its access. Firstly due to fewer security measures, and secondly, it affects workers’ concentration.

You must ban the use of data sharing and social applications like Facebook and Whatsapp. Consider this as a rule when employees use their devices to complete office work.  At the same time, as it is their own system, you must draw a line between their personal and professional world.

The best way to handle this event is by installing MDM (Mobile Device Management) software. It controls all the enrolled systems. It becomes the centralized platform to handle devices and monitor their security level. Look at the core features of an MDM system as shown in the figure below to get a better idea about its usability-

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5. Setup A Perfect Backup Strategy

There can be several events of stolen data due to loss or damage of devices. Look at the figure below that shows the percentage occurrence of such event in the BYOD situation-

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On the seriousness of this factor, backup is the sole solution to ensure that the data does not get lost. Restoring vital information is the primary aspect of the security policy. It would be best to frame a tactic for getting the data back in such accidental situations. 

The data stored on employees’ devices must get back in its original form. Thus, it reduces the situation of doing the work from the very beginning. Data loss, corruption, and system failure are some of the aspects a company must consider. Therefore, keep your organization prepared for backup solutions to fight against such situations.     

6. Well Define Data Accessibility To The Employees

The working area of all the workers differs from the others, and so does the need for the data.  Give only access to the data that is needed in doing their job. It significantly reduces the cases of data thefts. Make a list of the software, application, and data required by individual workers. You must provide access to the listed application only. 

The employee of the developer department does not in-depth need any marketing data. There is no use in giving such extra authority to them. It provides a safer side protection layer from malicious activities. That’s why it is good to provide access to the required data only.  

Wrapping Up

To ensure a safe working environment, security is the primary concern. With the use of BYOD policy in the company, varieties of aspects need consideration.  With the use of BYOD policy in the company, varieties of aspects need consideration. First, it includes workers’ privacy matters for using their devices. And secondly, the development of a risk-free culture.

Secure connectivity, device registration, accessibility develop a potent outline for secure BYOD usage.  It gives mutual benefits to the employees and the organization.  It improves productivity, efficiency, and satisfaction to work with their own device. Do Refer to the above tips to reduce the security risks to adopt the BYOD concept in your company.