Rise of BYOD posing data security questions

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Businesses need to make sure they work out how to deal with data security issues before BYOD really takes off.

While the number of BYOD devices in the workplace is expected to soar in 2014, this is likely to pose a lot of data security questions for businesses.

Writing for xconomy, Shellye Archambeau said that increasing adoption of BYOD equates to better efficiency and cost savings for companies, and more work-life flexibility for employees.

However, she posed the question of what would happen if a personal device with confidential business information was stolen, or a user-installed app on the device is compromised due to malware? This effectively puts the security and confidentiality of business data at risk.

According to the expert, 2014 is likely to see more tension between the need to protect corporate data, and the demand for BYOD flexibility. There are also likely to be issues surrounding oversight of BYOD activity by management, and employee privacy rights.

Ms Archambeau called for a balance to be struck by companies defining what is classed as understandable and acceptable in BYOD practice. It is also vital that businesses implement mature policies and best practices.

Questions that companies should pose to themselves when tackling the subject of BYOD include whether companies can enforce restrictions for personal devices, what levels of support corporate IT departments should provide for these devices, and whether organisations should be allowed to wipe data from devices should they be stolen.

This comes after experts at IDC predicted that ‘choose your own device’ could replace BYOD in 2014. This would see companies provide staff with a range of equipment options, and allow employees to choose items they believe will help them in their working life.

Doing this would potentially tackle data issues surrounding BYOD, as it could ensure that devices have been equipped with secure encryptions before workers take them out and about. This would mean that even if they did get lost, the data would be better protected.

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”. Rise of BYOD posing data security questions. December 31, 2013. Storetec.