Summary: This article explains BYOD, how it works, its benefits, security risks, and best practices for implementation and compliance.
Flexible working is expected in many modern companies. Team members reside worldwide, and staff move between homes, on-site workspaces, and remote settings. Bring your own device (BYOD) policies have become a popular solution, allowing flexibility for workers while maintaining security measures.
What is BYOD, and how can you use it effectively? This article will explain how bring your own device policies work, why companies use them, and the security challenges associated with BYOD. Together, we can help you benefit from flexibility without raising cybersecurity risks.
Bring your own device policies allow employees to use their personal devices at the workplace. For example, workers may use their own laptops or smartphones to access network applications and send emails.
Bring-your-own-device policies address a fundamental issue connected to BYOD: cybersecurity. Without consistent security policies, employees can import malware, create openings for data breaches, or maliciously extract data in insider attacks.
Bring your own device policies define how employees can use personal devices for work. They outline security requirements and safe usage practices to ensure secure connections to the corporate network, regardless of the device used.
Security teams make their BYOD policy available and integrate policy requirements into training for all network users. Employees must consent to follow the policy before logging onto the system, and penalties apply if users breach security rules.
Moving beyond the basic definition, BYOD comes in several varieties:
This article will mainly deal with BYOD and CYOD policies. However, it's helpful to note that more restrictive device management policies are available.
Defining allowable employee devices is a core part of all BYOD policies. Standard devices include laptops, smartphones, USB sticks or flash drives, and tablets.
A good rule is to allow the smallest possible range of devices. Allowing more device types tends to increase cyber risks and places a larger burden on security teams. Only allow devices that employees need to execute critical tasks.
Smartphones are probably the most common devices covered by BYOD. Stats suggest around 70% of Americans use their smartphone for business tasks like checking emails or collaborating with colleagues.
BYOD policies must explain what employees can do with their phones during working hours and what mandatory smartphone security measures apply.
Security teams can also take a more proactive approach to secure smartphone devices. Techniques like mobile application management (MAM) allow companies to control work apps and protect business data. Employees can use their phones as personal devices, but work tasks occur within protected containers.
A BYOD policy explains what employees must do to use personal devices in work settings. That sounds simple, but comprehensive BYOD policies must feature several components to function properly. These components include:
BYOD policies should foreground security concerns. Security requires a more detailed treatment, focusing on how BYOD device use can compromise data and network security.
The most important security component is defining access levels. Policies document whether employees have complete access to corporate data and applications or whether restrictions apply.
BYOD policies often allow wide-ranging network access. However, generalized access is risky from a cybersecurity perspective. Without tight control, cyber attackers can leverage unprotected devices to access sensitive data and damage network assets.
Access controls are also vital to protect sensitive data and meet compliance requirements (for example, safeguarding protected health information).
BYOD security best practices recommend combining BYOD with Zero Trust solutions. Zero Trust security verifies every access request and allows access only to role-based resources. Users can only access apps or data they need for essential tasks. This restricts attackers without obstructing workflows.
BYOD policies should go beyond access controls. Employees should use approved antivirus and malware scanning tools and Virtual Private Network (VPN) clients to secure remote connections. The policy should also include multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all corporate network logins.
Compliance should be a priority when writing your BYOD policy. Regulatory frameworks like HIPAA and GDPR require strict data security and privacy measures to safeguard confidential information, and a single exposed employee device can lead to compliance penalties.
Before approval, run the policy past your compliance team. Ensure employees understand how to protect corporate data and that acceptable use policies prevent accidental exposure.
Compliance also covers how businesses use an employee's personal data. BYOD policies must avoid gathering personal data and focus on business assets. You need consent to collect data from individual devices, alongside a clear explanation of how and why you do so.
BYOD policies balance flexibility and security concerns, but the emphasis should be on protecting data. Why is security such a critical issue when allowing employees to bring devices into the workplace?
This is an important question, as security measures have costs. They complicate access, create work for IT teams, and limit user freedom. Let's clarify exactly why the benefits of BYOD security far outweigh the costs.
This is an important question, as security measures have costs. They complicate access, create work for IT teams, and limit user freedom. Let's clarify exactly why the benefits of BYOD security far outweigh the costs.
Company networks must constantly guard against malware and surveillance attacks. However, one insecure device added to the network could deliver malware payloads, leading to enterprise-wide ransomware incidents or data breaches from resident agents.
The trouble with employee devices is that security teams cannot be sure they are safe. Employees may not have up-to-date security tools. Outdated operating systems could create security vulnerabilities. It's impossible to tell.
For example, an employee could download malware via a downloaded smartphone game before running the game during working hours. Without malware protection tools (which most personal devices lack), the entire network would be exposed to malware infection.
Moreover, employees often store business data on mobile phones or laptops. Thieves can obtain valuable data and credentials from lost or stolen devices. These security risks grow as more BYOD devices connect to the company network.
BYOD amplifies security risks without robust security policies. Fortunately, companies can employ many solutions to protect data and allow personally owned devices. Security best practices include:
So far, we've talked at length about security risks associated with bring your own device policies. The risks are real, but it's important to understand why BYOD is worth the effort. Companies benefit from robust device security in multiple ways.
Firstly, BYOD can cut costs. Workers purchase their mobile devices and laptops, lowering overall device expenditure and maintenance costs.
More importantly, BYOD often makes employees more dynamic and productive. Employees use familiar devices and don't need extensive training to run workloads. They can also blend personal and work activities. Accommodating family life, exercise, and social activities tends to result in happier workforces and better morale.
Another critical benefit of BYOD is flexibility. If staff can access networks via multiple devices, companies can adopt more agile working practices. Employees can work from anywhere, which is a bonus for sales teams and remote workers.
In many cases, BYOD policies also improve employee availability. Managers can access team members when they need them (not just during conventional working hours). This is a huge benefit in emergency situations or working to tight deadlines.
Flexible device policies are potentially great for workforces and managers. However, implementation is often challenging. Two critical issues stand out as bottlenecks when creating functional BYOD policies: access management and updating device posture security.
As we mentioned earlier, access management is the central BYOD security challenge. A network security solution should verify user credentials, assign appropriate user privileges, and prevent lateral movement within the network.
The trouble is that users employ many devices, which makes authentication problematic. Security systems must also manage access to hybrid cloud and on-premises assets. Security teams can easily lose visibility of data locations and user privileges.
Solutions like NordLayer address this challenge by enabling organizations to segment their networks and apply granular access controls. With Zero Trust principles in place, each access request is continuously verified—helping protect sensitive company data from both external threats and internal misuse.
Another challenge is accommodating and securing different operating systems. For instance, mobile devices might use outdated versions of iOS or Android. Some users will have Linux distros. Others could even use Windows 10 despite recent updates.
This matters because outdated software can become a backdoor for threat actors. Device posture security is the only viable solution.
NordLayer's Device Posture Security tools detect OS versions and approve connections if these operating systems are compatible with the network security tools. Where possible, security teams can require OS updates. However, blocking outdated devices may be necessary for security reasons.
Companies that allow employees to bring personal devices to work need BYOD security solutions.
Insecure devices expand the threat surface, providing entry points for data thieves, ransomware agents, corporate spies, and insider threats. On the other hand, excessively complex security tools hinder flexible work and make detecting threats harder.
NordLayer provides a comprehensive solution. Download Protection scans files for malware, while Zero Trust access controls manage personal device connections. Device Posture Security verifies configurations and blocks non-compliant devices, and our Business VPN secures remote access. Coming soon, our Enterprise Browser will help enforce web security policies across all devices.
Personal devices shouldn’t be a source of anxiety for security teams. Explore smart solutions that balance ease of use and robust protection. To learn more, contact the NordLayer team today.
Agnė Srėbaliūtė
Senior Creative Copywriter
Agne is a writer with over 15 years of experience in PR, SEO, and creative writing. With a love for playing with words and meanings, she crafts content that’s clear and distinctive. Agne balances her passion for language and tech with hiking adventures in nature—a space that recharges her.
Subscribe to our blog updates for in-depth perspectives on cybersecurity.
