New applications and the use of mobile devices have experienced an important upturn in recent years; and trends point that it will continue to rise. So, BYOD policies are nowadays synonym of basic standards for good promotion of products and services. Then, the next logical step it’s preparing ourselves to minimize the dangers of its use.
The particular characteristics of smartphones and APIs have transformed the use of mobile devices in high performance tools for communications and data exchange. Therefore, BYOD policies must be included in security planning.
Mobile Device Management and BYOD
First of all, IT security managers must be apprised of each mobile device used across the organization at all times during their life cycle. Neglecting this speaks about poor management of digital security and BOYD policies in the company’s architecture.
However, creating correct BYOD policies is often complicated. In other words, the poor management of BYOD policies do not always obey to negligence or ignorance: Recent studies suggest that at least 30% of companies manifest difficulties in the implementation of BYOD policies.
There are plenty reasons behind such difficulties; however, these three are the most usual:
1. Lack of resources
On the one hand, many companies independently from their size and specially in their beginnings tend to have reduced budgets. Consequently, they limit both the acquisition and the management of resources for network protection.
2. Lack of knowledge
Following, we find the group of companies whose digital security managers and owners have the misconception that, they do not not need BYOD policy management; and even less the adoption of Mobile Device Management (MDM) systems.
Consequently, they assume that BYOD policies should be applied when they have larger number number of devices surfing in their networks; and therefore, they do not see the real benefit of assigning resources to their use.
3. Lack of expertise
Last, there are CEOs and CIOs that actually understand the value of allocating resources to acquire platforms and MDM solutions. However, they also are inadequately prepared for the paradigm shift and consequently; they lack the ability to properly use MDM tools.
For any of these three reasons, a MDM system provides the right service to cover and and apply better control over BYOD policies. So, if you want a shortcut to correctly track BYOD policies to properly manage the mobile devices of your staff; this checklist is perfect for you.
Making inventory for BYOD policies
First of all, we must take an inventory of authorized mobile devices in our networks. This inventory should fill the following parameters:
Accessories
In addition to registering the main features of each device, the MDM of your choice must record and report the total amount and status of associated wireless adapters, batteries, cables and memories.
Discrimination
Next, the MDM must automatically classify the devices by operating systems and versions or mobile state according to the parameters: Unknown; Authorized; Provisioned; Out of Order.
Maintenance
Likewise, the MDM must track each registered device periodically to check changes in their connection to our networks; or apply audits. Also, they must have the ability to know who owns the device and its location. This task is better achieved through GPS functions.
Integration to the CMDB
Finally, if you already have a CMDB for BYOD policies, it is also convenient that it automatically synchronizes and makes automatic updates of changes through exports and reports.
BYOD policies: Checklist of Best Practices
Albeit small, your employee list must include qualified personnel in IT security, and all of them must be committed with their best practices. Same, you need a good service provider to correctly manage the necessary aspects that allow the integration of mobile devices to your company’s platform.
In the market, there are plenty Cloud-based solutions for MDM and BYOD policies management of your company that will also grow and improve its performance over time. In this regard, you must ensure that your options promote the following best practices in BYOD policies to enhance the integrity of your network architecture:
1) Drive and integrate
Implementing BYOD policies in the company demand a joint effort between different departments: IT, developers, users, decision makers. All members of the organization have to be aware of the set limits for mobile devices accessing to the company’s network.
2) Establish and inform
Frame your BYOD policies according to the laws of your country; and make sure that your employees know each step in the protocol to enter; modify and remove their device in BYOD planning.
When including their mobile devices to the BYOD CMDB, your employees must sign an agreement stating that, in the event of loss; they fully entitle the company to block their devices remotely.
3) Manage mobile resources
Cell phones, tablets and other mobile devices come with GPS, camera, audio and video recorders by default. Within the BYOD policies, these functionalities are also object of protection in the work activity.
In other words, the data is not the only element sensitive of protection and, by extension; all material related to the development of applications; products and services are also protected by BYOD policies.
4) Wi-Fi networks
Also, Wi-Fi network configurations and related equipment are part of BYOD policies. This includes for example, encryption of wireless connections and access control under the highest protection standards.
5) Protect information on all mobile devices
Similarly; BYOD Policies must safeguard all the sensitive information contained in mobile devices that are vital for the company’s business activities. This include the client’s data and information, marketing plans, I+D+I and similar
6) Prioritize CIO and CEO levels
Finally, directors and department managers must have full access to as much information as possible across the network. For this reason, we must ensure that their devices and equipments have all the settings that allow them to freely work on them; and pay particular attention to the applications they download for the purpose of labor management.
These simple recommendations will serve you as a guide to prepare your organization towards the paradigm shift in the use and application of BYOD policies with total security. If you still need to deepen in them, we invite you to write us here to select and install integral systems that protect your systems to you in the proper management of your BOYD policies.
