Employees Just Don’t Care About Keeping Company Data Safe With BYOD

BYOD working may have helped businesses get more out of their employees, but it seems that many firms are failing to ensure employees are keeping data secure outside the office.

Kaspersky Lab research has found many workers are not securing company data on their personal devices, with one in ten admitting they were “seriously concerned” about keeping work information safe should cybercriminals gain access to their device.

At risk

The study found that many employees of large and medium-sized companies are now using personal mobile devices for vital work processes, with 36 percent of respondents saying that they stored work files on them, and 34 percent keeping work-related email messages.

However, this is increasingly extending to include more confidential information can also be found on users’ devices, such as passwords to corporate email accounts (18 percent), networks or VPNs (11 percent). Such information represents a valuable prize for cybercriminals hunting for corporate secrets.

To minimise the risks to businesses, Kaspersky is recommending that businesses looking to implement BYOD working prepare thoroughly for implementation, and use a security solution that covers the full range of mobile devices. The company also recommends having trained security specialists on board who are able to pull suspect or infected devices off the network.

“By successfully creating and managing a BYOD network, businesses can simplify their IT operations while providing greater flexibility for employees,” said Kirill Slavin, general manager of UK and Ireland at Kaspersky Lab.

“However, BYOD can potentially create security gaps if not managed effectively and Kaspersky Security for Mobile was developed specifically to meet the right requirements. The best way to make BYOD work for a business is to ensure it is simple to control and easy to maintain without compromising security or performance.”

Despite promising a wide range of advantages, including flexible working and improved connectivity, BYOD schemes are still being viewed with suspicion by many companies.

A recent HP study discovered that half of organisations questioned are still mistrustful of BYOD, admitting to being concerned that such a policy would compromise their organisation’s security.

Of those companies surveyed that had a BYOD policy in place, 20 percent reported that they had been hit by at least one security breach in the last year, with two percent suffering more than five BYOD-related breaches in the same period.

Are you a security pro? Try our quiz!

Mike Moore

Michael Moore joined TechWeek Europe in January 2014 as a trainee before graduating to Reporter later that year. He covers a wide range of topics, including but not limited to mobile devices, wearable tech, the Internet of Things, and financial technology.

View Comments

  • If the company is so cheap and nasty as to expect their employees to BYOD then they deserve what they get.

Recent Posts

Apple, Google Mobile Ecosystems Should Be Investigated, CMA Told

CMA receives 'provisional recommendation' from independent inquiry that Apple,Google mobile ecosystem needs investigation

2 days ago

Australia Rejects Elon Musk Claim About Social Media Ban For Under-16s

Government minister flatly rejects Elon Musk's “unsurprising” allegation that Australian government seeks control of Internet…

2 days ago

Northvolt Files For Bankruptcy Protection In US

Northvolt files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States, and CEO and co-founder…

2 days ago

UK’s CMA Readies Cloud Sector “Behavioural” Remedies – Report

Targetting AWS, Microsoft? British competition regulator soon to announce “behavioural” remedies for cloud sector

3 days ago

Former Policy Boss At X, Nick Pickles, Joins Sam Altman Venture

Move to Elon Musk rival. Former senior executive at X joins Sam Altman's venture formerly…

3 days ago

Bitcoin Rises Above $96,000 Amid Trump Optimism

Bitcoin price rises towards $100,000, amid investor optimism of friendlier US regulatory landscape under Donald…

3 days ago