Bringing your own computer to the workplace has been a game-changer for many businesses and their staff. However, there is growing evidence that BYOD’s (Bring Your Own Device) can reduce the client experience overall and introduces several security concerns that are difficult to solve.
When you give advisors the freedom to use their own devices, such as laptops and mobiles, you also give them the freedom of data (i.e. their client book). Client’s interact with their advisor primarily via telephone and email, and to a lesser extent a CRM platform. If the adviser leaves the business, their book is effectively taken with them, including the primary modes of communication (especially telephone).
Staff rarely approve installing corporate software on BYOD devices, because they have personal information on them, and the risk of the device being remote wiped is a real concern. This means that BYOD’s are far less secure, and should be treated as such. This is a big risk.
What can you do about it?
- Provide devices that are corporately owned (and therefore secure), and can also work on personal tasks.
- Allow company tools to run on BYOD’s only via web apps, so that they cannot store any business-related data on the computer.
- Consider a virtual desktop configuration, where staff can access their desktops remotely and keep their personal devices free of annoying company applications, ensuring that data stays within the confines of the company’s data bubble.
Some next steps to consider
- Businesses should evaluate their current device policies and consider transitioning to more secure alternatives.
- Obtain feedback from your teams to see if they would be flexible to changing the current arrangements, and highlight the importance of securing devices to protect client data.
- Engage with your IT department or IT vendor to audit current practices and develop a strategy that balances convenience and security.