With many employees working under more flexible arrangements than ever before (including hybrid working models), you might’ve come across BYOD, which is an acronym for bring your own device. It’s usually used in the context of a BYOD policy, which in one way or another, lays out the terms for using your own device to connect to your company’s network, whether you’re in the office or working remotely.
What Does a BYOD Policy Include?
This can vary from company to company, but a BYOD policy is typically put in place based around some core ideas. This includes permitted device types (mobile, desktop, tablet, etc.), acceptable usage rules (what you can and can’t do when connected to the network from your own device) and security requirements (password, encryption and software requirements, for example).
BYOD programs could also include rules on device use when working remotely, and might have a separate set of security instructions that need to be followed to access the network from outside the office.
How Managed IT Supports BYOD Program Delivery
Many businesses that roll out a BYOD program or policy will have a different way of doing it, and that depends on their internal situation when it comes to IT. Some will have a team, but will need support to roll it out, and others won’t have any capacity to be able to do this as thoroughly and efficiently as it needs to be done.
IT Managed Service Providers (MSPs) support the delivery of BYOD initiatives in either of the two latter situations, whether as an extension of an existing in-house team, or as a contracted partner to support and maintain the rollout.
It’s all about the balance between security and privacy, so there are a few key areas that are crucial to get right for BYOD to be successful, which we’ll take you through below.
Mobile Application Management (MAM)
Mobile application management (or MAM) focuses on the security of devices by helping to protect data that lives within specific applications. The company can’t control or view personal information on the device, but they can for specific applications that are required for work.
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
This is another one that focuses on security, but more on the authentication and authorisation side of accessing certain software or websites. This includes things like multi-factor authentication, as well as ensuring the right people have the right level of access; nothing more and nothing less.
Unified Endpoint Management (UEM)
Unified Endpoint Management (or UEM) is a software that allows IT teams to monitor, manage and secure multiple devices through one solution. In the context of BYOD, businesses will see the value of having the simplified administration process and built-in reporting features that UEM facilitates. Whether the company is managing this themselves, or working collaboratively with a managed IT partner, UEM helps make a complex environment pretty simple in the grand scheme of things.
BYOD policies and management can be complex, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right managed IT partner like Xenex Systems, you can get it to a point where it works and feels manageable.
From rolling out MAM, IAM and UEM, to working through custom solutions built around your business and requirements, penetration testing to ensure your security posture is holding up, and more, we can help get your BYOD policy working as efficiently as possible for your workforce.
Get in touch with our team today for a free IT audit and consultation, or call us on (08) 6245 2800.