The conversation on bring your own device (BYOD) in the workplace has been going on for a while and it’s obviously more a given in some sectors than in others. Opinions among security experts on whether or not BYOD is a good idea depend on who you talk to. What is clear is that organizations may want to at least consider a BYOD program. Why? Because not only do many employees use their personal devices for work anyway, studies show that they’re more productive when they’re allowed to.
Though there are big benefits to having a BYOD program, including boosting employee productivity and morale, as well as possible cost savings, security risks are a critical concern. Employee non-compliance with updates and patches, more potential entry points for hackers and the lurking liability issues are all enough to make some organizations decide BYOD just isn’t worth it. Certainly, the risks must be weighed with the benefits.