The Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) trend is expanding by the day, at least according to a Global Markets Insights research, which projects the market to be worth a whopping $367 billion by 2022. While convenience and cost-effectiveness remain BYOD’s two biggest selling points, the issue of cybersecurity lurks on the other side, and that undercuts the many benefits of this phenomenon. Read on for ways to reduce security threats on your business and customer data without giving up your BYOD strategy.
Know who accesses your network
This should go without saying, but businesses often forget to review network and data access channels until a data breach occurs. Always check the accounts and devices within your network for any cases of unauthorized access. Try to identify unusual activity such as several unsuccessful login attempts and the use of many different devices to access the same account.
Invest in data encryption tools
Data encryption is an excellent way to prevent unauthorized access as it makes data unreadable to third parties that may get hold of it. Virtual private networks (VPNs) allow businesses to replace actual employee IP addresses with generic ones and make it impossible for hackers to get into the company network via vulnerable employee devices. Take the time to find a VPN that suits your company’s needs and sits within your budget frame. A tool such as TunnelBear VPN is built with BYOD-style multiple-device network access in mind and can help secure your entire network from a single interface.
Educate your staff
Your security strategy is not complete if your employees don’t know their role in protecting the company’s data. Everyone who accesses the company network needs to have a nodding acquaintance with cybersecurity. They ought to know the dangers of sending and receiving information via a public network and the ramifications of data breaches. Introduce them to the importance of always logging out of their accounts, keeping their devices locked, install data manager apps, and not sharing authentication credentials with anyone. If possible, get an IT expert to conduct the training for you.
Brace up for data breaches
Even the most robust cybersecurity strategies get hacked, so it is best to keep in mind that your BYOD data security approach is meant to reduce the risk of attacks, not eliminate it. Always have a recovery plan at the ready for when the balloon goes up. This may include laying down a backup strategy and letting your employees in on it.
Partner with IT experts
Taking proactive measures and educating your employees can help enhance your BYOD data security strategy, but the rapid evolution of cybersecurity threats won’t let you rely on that. Hiring an in-house team of IT experts to handle the technical aspects or outsource services on an ad hoc basis can help you beef up your security and give you peace of mind, knowing you have a reliable backup if things go wrong.
Endnote
In an era where we wake up to the news of a huge data breach every other day, you have every reason to be worried about being a victim yourself. Use the above tips to remove vulnerabilities in your BYOD strategy and ensure the security of your business and employee data.
