It’s easy to understand why more and more businesses are taking a “bring your own device” (BYOD) approach to the smartphones, tablets and laptops many employees rely on to do their jobs. BYOD can boost employee efficiency and satisfaction, while often reducing a company’s IT costs. However, this approach isn’t without risk for both you and your staff. So, it is highly advisable to create a strong formal policy that combines convenience with security.
Primary Concerns
As an employer, one of the primary concern with a BYOD policy is the inevitable security risks that arise when your networks are accessible by personal devices that could be stolen, lost, or hacked. You must also consider the various legal compliance issues, such as electronic document retention for litigation purposes or liability for overtime pay when nonexempt employees use their devices to work outside of normal hours.
For employees, the main worry comes down to privacy. Will you, the employer, have access to personal information, photos, and other non-work-related data on the device? Could an employee lose all of that if you’re forced to “wipe” the device because it’s been lost or stolen, or when the employee leaves your company?
Important Obligations
A BYOD policy must address these and other issues. Each company’s individual circumstances will determine the final details, but most employers should, at minimum, require employees to sign an acknowledgment of their obligations to:
- Use strong passwords and automatic lock-outs after periods of inactivity
- Immediately report lost or stolen devices
- Install mandated antivirus software and other protective measures
- Regularly back up their devices
- Keep apps and operating systems up to date
- Encrypt their devices
The policy also should prohibit the use of public wi-fi networks or require employees to log in through a secure virtual private network when connecting via public wi-fi. You may want to forbid certain apps, as well.
In addition, you need to spell out your rights to access, monitor, and delete data on employees’ devices — including the types of data you can access and under which conditions. In particular, explain your wiping procedures and the steps employees can take to protect their personal information from permanent erasure.
Protection Now
Nearly everyone who works for your company likely has a smartphone at this point. As such devices continually integrate themselves deeper into our daily lives, it’s only natural that they’ll affect our jobs. Establishing a BYOD policy now can help prevent costly mistakes and potential litigation down the road.
Let the expert team at Anderson and Whitenay provide further information and guidance. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you might have!
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