More and more businesses are leaving employees to their own devices.

Most anyone who has ever been invited to a party knows that BYOB means “Bring Your Own Beverage.”  However, a different type of “Bring Your Own” policy is taking over the modern workplace.  BYOD, or “Bring Your Own Device,” is the practice of allowing employees to use their personal devices on the job.  These devices include smartphones, laptops, tablets and anything else that bolsters employee mobility and freedom.

Allowing employees to access company data from personal devices can be essential to creating work-life balance.  However, employee-owned devices can also pose security threats.  It can save companies money but also cause additional security headaches.  So what is the right small business BYOD policy for your organization?

Do you have a small business BYOD policy in place?

In the Business.org article linked below, Bill Frost “breaks down the pros and cons” of bring your own device policies.

Benefits of BYOD:

  • Lower costs
  • Higher worker satisfaction
  • Increased productivity
  • Instant software and hardware updates

Disadvantages of BYOD:

  • Lax security protection
  • Potential for misplaced devices
  • Unsecured Wi-fi
  • Employee separation (i.e., your info could still be on their devices when they leave the company)

A good BYOD policy should outline acceptable uses, supported devices and security protocols.  Meanwhile, it should also list potential risks and liabilities, as well as any other critical information.  Frost also recommends MDM (mobile device management) to add an additional layer of security.

Do you want to give your employees the freedom to work from anywhere, but aren’t sure where to start?  At Capital Network Solutions, we can help protect your company data, no matter where it’s accessed. If you need help implementing a small business BYOD policy, or just want some extra security, call CNS at (916) 366-6566.

In the meantime, check out this Business.org article that outlines the pros and cons of BYOD.

READ MORE: “Guide to Creating a BYOD Policy for Small Business” by Bill Frost.  The article was originally published on Business.org.