Don't Throw The Data Out With The Bathwater: Why BYOD, MDM Security Policies Need A Revamp

By Ahmet Tuncay, CEO, Soonr

According to IDC there will be some 1.3 billion mobile workers by 2015 and as many as 328 million employee-owned smartphones on the job by 2017. Enterprise IT needs to seriously consider its bring your own device (BYOD) and mobile device management (MDM) policies to ensure that they can protect corporate data while also supporting their employees’ need to work when and where they want in the age of the mobile worker.

Turning A Blind Eye

BYOD and workforce mobility create new risks for corporate data. When sensitive company information roams without IT control on multiple devices, the risk of device theft or loss can loom. In fact, nearly three in five enterprises today cite data security breach as a top BYOD concern. Even so, a great many simply turn a blind eye to this BYOD risk, cross their fingers and hope nothing drastic happens.

However, research says that something will. As many as 50 percent of lost mobile devices are never recovered, and 35 percent of data breaches are caused by the loss or theft of a corporate asset. Companies who value the protection of their business information can’t ignore BYOD risk for long.

Drastic Measures

On the other hand, some companies take extreme steps to protect their data. These organizations take the risk of stolen or lost devices, rogue employees, and workers who depart perhaps involuntarily seriously and significantly restrict their BYOD policies, impacting employee performance, flexibility, and satisfaction. Some deploy MDM solutions that have the ability to perform full-device wipes, where a company has the authority to completely wipe the contents of a smartphone or tablet clean after it’s been lost or stolen, even if the device is employee-owned.

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