With the increasing popularity of remote work at small businesses, the need for a comprehensive Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy has never been more important. While the majority of small businesses have a BYOD policy, cybersecurity developments and stricter compliance requirements make it important to review and update your BYOD policy regularly to ensure that it remains effective.
Key Components of a BYOD Policy
Security experts stress that a weak or poorly formulated BYOD policy is almost as bad as having no BYOD policy at all. Your company’s BYOD policy should consist of the following key sections, and your employees should be trained and evaluated in following it correctly. 
Catalog listing all approved devices and acceptable or mandatory applications
The first part of any BYOD policy clearly lays out the personal devices that can be used and the necessary security measures that must be installed. Your employees should be able to easily access a list of approved devices and models, operating systems, applications, and required software updates.
Advanced security requirements installed on devices
Your policy should detail all mandatory antivirus and encryption software that is compatible with your company’s network. It should also state required security features such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), password policies, timeout locks, facial recognition, and biometric verification.
Specific instructions on situational behavior
Your policy should provide a blueprint for your employees on how to respond to various scenarios involving their personal devices. Examples include steps to take in the event of a cyberattack, protocols for lost, stolen, and shared devices, and data handling guidance for employees leaving the company.
Company must have a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution with a remote delete function
It is a necessity for your organization to utilize an MDM solution that has the ability to remotely delete company-sensitive data from personal devices without asking permission along with other security features. MDM solutions are readily available that enable companies to remotely delete any enterprise-related data, while leaving employees’ private content undisturbed.
Clear consequences for not following guidelines
There must be written policies that clearly designate unauthorized internet, email, and mobile behavior involving the usage and sharing of company data. The consequences of not strictly following these rules should be clearly articulated in your BYOD policy.
Employees’ right to privacy must be protected
Your BYOD policy must state that employers have the right to access some of their personal content on their own devices such as social media, personal documents, and entertainment files. However, it must also indicate that employees have the right to privacy concerning privileged communications with their lawyers, healthcare professionals, and any complaints or disputes protected by the National Labor Relations Act.
Reimbursement of expenses for employees
Your organization’s BYOD policy must communicate the specifics for how employees will be reimbursed for using their personal devices for work purposes. For example, a percentage of an employee’s cell phone or internet service provider plan would be reimbursed for company work. Fair employee reimbursement is necessary to meet ethical and legal requirements.
Benefits of a Comprehensive BYOD Policy
Improved cybersecurity
Bad actors know that the weakest link of all organizations is found in staff behavior, especially when using their own devices. With the security features guaranteed by following a thorough BYOD policy, your company’s network will be well protected against cyberattacks.
A more productive workforce
Studies have shown that workers using familiar devices are usually more efficient. Following a comprehensive BYOD policy will give employees more comfort and flexibility, which will result in increased employee satisfaction and improved productivity.
Ensured compliance and legal requirements
A comprehensive, formal BYOD policy will help ensure that your organization meets all compliance and legal requirements. This is especially critical in meeting the compliance requirements of demanding and important IT security standards such as CMMC.
Reduced operating expenses
A well-formulated BYOD policy will usually result in lower expenditure on new hardware and software, which will reduce your company’s expenses. There will also be lower costs for IT support and training along with lower software licensing costs. However, it is important that any necessary reimbursement for your employees’ use of their own equipment be carefully accounted for in your BYOD policy.
Faster onboarding process and decreased training needs
Your new employee will be able to begin work more rapidly when they don’t have to wait for a company device to be set up for their use. Also, they will be familiar with their own devices and applications, which will result in less training time. However, some training will be necessary to ensure that your employees are familiar with the BYOD policy and following it as instructed.
Partner with an IT Support Expert on BYOD Policies
We recommend that you work closely with an IT Support expert, such as Network Depot, who is experienced in assisting companies in formulating, executing, and maintaining a comprehensive BYOD policy.
Your IT Support partner will ensure that your company will reap the benefits from a well-formulated BYOD policy. With the assistance of an experienced IT partner and an effective BYOD policy, your organization will be more secure and productive as you strive to meet your unique objectives.