The hidden threat of Bring Your Own Devices (BYOD)

With flexible working integrating itself into the workplace with increasing prevalence, a whole host of problems face HR.

Proven Legal Technologies bought four smartphones from eBay, all from different UK sellers, and analysed the phones for company data. Between the four phones they recovered; 1,531 deleted documents and files, 438 tracked emails, 54 contact details, and 33,535 images.

Phil Beckett, Partner at Proven Legal Technologies, said that personal devices may provide flexibility, but are putting confidential company information at risk: “As employees increasingly rely on remote working, they require access to corporate material beyond the office walls, and BYOD has provided a straightforward solution.

“However, the risks this incurs for business needs to be calculated on an individual basis. If HR is to encourage BYOD, there must be a critical understanding of the threats, and measures put in place to minimise them. Alternatively, some companies may choose to introduce a blanket ban of BYOD if the risks to confidentiality are too great.”