What is Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)? Is a relatively new workplace trend where employees are bringing their personal electronics to their place of work for both professional and personal use. This includes anything ranging from laptops, phones, tablets, etc. BYOD has risen in popularity for multiple reasons and has become increasingly common in office environments.
Companies have found it cost-effective and time-efficient for their employees to bring their own devices. It has opened the doors toward enabling workplace flexibility (Work From Home Cyber Security) and increased productivity. Most importantly, it has given end-users the ability to use technology that they feel comfortable with and understand. Furthermore, workplaces were able to continue their operations due to employees using their personal devices from the comfort of their homes.
BYOD policies offer employees flexibility that significantly improves their work/life balance. This improved balance benefits both employees and organizations. However, BYOD comes with challenges, primarily security risks, which are a major concern and a key reason some organizations are hesitant to implement these policies.
It is essential to note that BYOD doesn’t necessarily only refer to computer devices. It is also applicable to what we would classify as small devices. For instance, charging cables and USB devices.
BYOD Cybersecurity Risks and How to Mitigate Them
Employee devices typically lack the robust security measures found on organization-owned devices. Personal devices are generally not equipped to prevent corporate data breaches or network intrusions. This vulnerability is highlighted by the fact that 50% of companies permitting BYOD have experienced breaches via employee-owned devices (BYOD Security Risks).
Furthermore, employees’ actions can pose significant security risks to organizations. Carelessness and negligence when using BYODs can lead to severe consequences. Without adequate security features, employee awareness sometimes serves as the only defense against malicious attacks.
Vulnerable Peripherals Devices
Peripheral devices open the potential for intentional and unintentional breaches of data and security. That new phone charger you ordered from a cheap website is actually a Rogue Device. Which is a tool used in hardware attacks, meaning it requires a physical connection to the intended target in order to be effective and wreak havoc.
Suddenly, you can find yourself being an insider threat, even if that was never the intention. Falling prey to this can happen in the blink of an eye as these types of devices can find their way into the office via clever social engineering tactics. For instance, free USB handouts or faulty advertisements that mislead consumers into unknowingly using compromised BYODs.
Spoofed Peripherals
Spoofed peripherals are dangerous office predators due to their ability to camouflage as unsuspecting everyday technology (Spoofed Laptops). While simultaneously infiltrating networks unnoticed by exploiting the Layer 1 visibility gap. Existing security solutions, such as NAC Solutions (Does Your NAC Solution Slack?), EPS, IDS, IoT Network Security and more, fail to cover Layer 1. This allows Rogue Devices to go undetected and carry out malicious attacks without raising any security alarms.
Lost/Stolen Devices
Other risks in the office should be considered when talking about BYODs. Improper mobile management and lost or stolen devices are devastating vulnerabilities for any company. Whereby the attackers must do minimal work to gain access to sensitive information due to negligent practices or behavior by either an employee or the company. According to a recent study conducted, out of 70 million devices lost or stolen each year. Only 7% are eventually recovered (The Rise and Risk of BYOD).
How to Prevent BYOD Cyber Security Risks?
A great prevention technique that can and should be adopted by any office workspace is Security Education Training and Awareness, otherwise known as (SETA). While being an abstract concept, it fundamentally can help a workforce build the foundational institutional policies and procedures to counter the psychological exploitations of social engineering.
Make sure that at the office personal and business data are separated to the best degree possible. While also setting up a system that provides effective and fast solutions for lost BYODs. All of these suggestions are small steps that can be taken in order to practice SETA and minimize your odds of being a target.
While SETA is valuable for creating a secure workplace, it isn’t a foolproof solution. Human error can’t be fully prevented. Rogue Devices can still enter as seemingly harmless BYODs through deceptive social engineering techniques, tricking even vigilant employees. These devices bypass traditional cybersecurity solutions, so addressing the risk requires focusing on Layer 1 visibility.
Overcoming BYOD Security Risks
Sepio’s platform provides a panacea to gaps in network device visibility. Sepio’s ARM integrates with existing solutions, such as NAC, EPS, SIEM and SOAR, to enhance the enterprise’s cybersecurity posture. The solution deep network visibility capabilities mean no device goes unmanaged. All IT/OT/IoT connected devices are detected and identify. Moreover, Sepio’s policy enforcement mechanism and Rogue Device Mitigation capabilities instantly block any unapproved or rogue hardware. In doing so, Sepio’s enables a Zero Trust Hardware Access approach, which stops attackers at the first line of defense.
BYODs in the office offer a great range of benefits that should be taken advantage of. However, with great benefits come great risks. And you need to make sure that you’re fully protected from all points of access.
See every known and shadow asset. Prioritize and mitigate risks.
Talk to an expert. It will help you understand how to use Sepio’s patented technology to gain control of your asset risks.
