Jon TamplinShould Businesses Worry About BYOD Security?

With the rise of remote or hybrid workforces, many individuals are using their personal devices to conduct work and access company data. This practice, known as Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), is now commonplace with most organisations to reduce hardware costs. However, alongside cybersecurity risks, there is an often-overlooked aspect: compliance. How well do current BYOD practices align with necessary compliance standards, and what risks are we overlooking?

BYOD policies have seamlessly integrated into modern working culture, with studies indicating that nearly 90% of workers prefer to select their main work device. Yet, there remains a substantial gap in understanding the compliance and security risks posed by BYOD, with many organisations lacking effective strategies to mitigate these risks.

Initially, the rapid adoption of BYOD left many IT security teams scrambling, leading to a simplistic approach: labelling devices as BYOD without fully grasping the need for compliance and protection measures. This oversight has significant implications, especially when considering standards and frameworks like Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, NIST frameworks, CIS Controls, and SOC 2.

To bridge this gap, businesses can take several key steps to enhance their BYOD security and ensure compliance:

1. Implement Mobile Device Management (MDM): This enables IT teams to remotely manage and secure devices, crucial for protecting sensitive information from being exposed in the event of a loss or theft.
2. Ensure Effective Asset Management and Access Governance: It's vital to promptly revoke access when it's no longer needed, safeguarding against unauthorised access to sensitive company information.
3. Deploy Monitoring Software: Being able to detect malware promptly allows organisations to react swiftly, reducing potential damage from cyber threats.
4. Enhance Endpoint Protection: Implementing antivirus solutions, regular patching, encryption, and multifactor authentication are key to safeguarding devices from various cybersecurity threats.
5. Develop Rigorous BYOD Policies: Policies should address device maintenance such as timely updates, application control, and secure log-on procedures, ensuring a consistent approach to device security.

While these steps are crucial, many organisations still resort to merely labelling personal devices as BYOD without implementing robust security measures. This approach leaves significant security gaps and exposes the organisation to risks such as data breaches, malware infections, and other cyber threats:

• Supported Operating Systems: Ensuring devices use current operating systems that receive regular security updates.

• Secure Configuration: Devices should be set up to prevent unauthorised access, a fundamental step in protecting company data.

• Access Control and Malware Protection: Ensuring only authorised users can access sensitive information is vital, particularly when devices might be shared with others outside the organisation. Equally crucial is safeguarding devices from malware threats and maintaining their security through regular updates.

• Patch Management and Data Protection: Vital for maintaining device security and data integrity, directly impacting compliance with regulatory standards.

• Application Control, Firewalls, and Secure Log-On: Overlooked aspects that can lead to non-compliance if not properly managed within a BYOD policy.

At ThreatAware, we understand the evolving complexities of managing cybersecurity and compliance. Our platform offers a single source of truth for every device accessing companydata, whether BYOD or corporately owned.

For organisations striving to navigate the intricacies of BYOD compliance, the difference between a cursory labelling approach and a thorough strategy is substantial. Embracing comprehensive measures not only secures your cyber assets but also aligns your BYOD practices with essential compliance requirements.

If you’re looking to enhance your organisation’s BYOD strategy to meet the demanding standards of today's cybersecurity and compliance landscape, we invite you to explore our resources and reach out for a demonstration at ThreatAware.