Mobile Device Management: How to Develop an Effective BYOD Policy

Organizations are under pressure to allow personal mobile device usage in the business wireless network. BYOD (Bring-Your-Own-Device) program provides significant advantages such as increased productivity, cost saving, and employee satisfaction, but it is also a challenge for the IT team. To be successful, organizations should have a clear and well-defined BYOD policy.

Companies should first decide which devices are to be permitted. Today, we have multiple device choices – you need to make it clear to your employees what devices you will support and what you will not. Employees have access to a lot of sensitive business data, so they need to have a complex password attached to their devices at all times. You should mandate the use of antivirus applications, and other security and firewall settings in your BYOD policy.

Organizations need to decide what applications will be allowed to access the business information. The BOYD policy should clearly explain that the IT team has the authority to prohibit the use of specific applications that might threaten the security and integrity of the organization. It should be applied to all devices that connect your business network, whether business owned or employee-owned.

Employee exit strategy should also be clearly defined. You can select either disable access or even wipe the device from the corporate network. But, make sure how you will back up the employee’s personal data prior the mobile device is wiped. You should have a detailed plan for your employees leaving your company and share it with them ahead of time.

Sophisticated mobile device management software helps you a lot in building a completely secure business wireless network. It allows you to take full advantage of your BYOD initiative.