Your Employees Are Using Personal Devices for Work, and That Should Worry You

It starts innocently enough. A team member checks their work email on their personal phone while grabbing coffee. Another installs the company messaging app on their personal laptop to work from home. Someone else uses their tablet to show a presentation at a client meeting because it's more convenient than carrying a work laptop.

These scenarios play out in small businesses across Northern California every day. And while they might seem harmless – even beneficial for productivity – they're creating security vulnerabilities that could put your entire business at risk.

The New Normal Isn't as Safe as You Think

According to a recent Beyond Identity survey of 1,000 employees who use technology for work, over half (50.4%) either use their personal devices only (14.4%) or both personal and work devices (36.1%).

As you can see, the line between work and personal devices has become increasingly blurred. Your employees are likely using their personal devices for work whether you have a policy about it or not. The question isn't whether it's happening – it's whether you're protected against the risks.

The Hidden Dangers of Personal Devices

Mixed Personal and Business Data

When employees use personal devices for work, your sensitive business data lives alongside their personal photos, apps, and emails. This means:

• Customer information could be accidentally shared through personal apps

• Business documents might be backed up to personal cloud storage

• Confidential emails could be visible on family devices

Security Gaps You Can't Control

Personal devices often lack the security measures that business devices require:

• Delayed or skipped security updates

• Missing or outdated endpoint protection software

• Weak or reused passwords

• Connections to unsecured networks

• Family members or friends using the same device

Did you know: According to LastPass, 45% of employees don’t change their passwords, even after a data breach. In addition, 65% say they often just use different variations of the same password.

The "It Won't Happen to Me" Mindset

Many small business owners think their company is too small to be a target. However, cybercriminals often specifically target small businesses through personal devices because they typically have:

• Fewer cybersecurity measures in place

• Less monitoring of device usage

• Valuable client and financial data

• Connections to larger business partners

Real-World Consequences

Consider these common scenarios:

• An employee's personal phone is stolen with their work email still logged in

• A team member's child downloads a game containing malware onto a tablet used for work

• Someone accesses sensitive company files through public Wi-Fi at a coffee shop

• An employee sells their personal laptop without properly removing business data

Nearly three quarters of small business owners reported a cyberattack in 2022, and IBM found that the average cost of a data breach is $4.88 million. Very few small businesses can afford to absorb that impact, and none want to.

Taking Control Without Losing Flexibility

The good news is that you can balance security with the flexibility your team needs. Modern solutions allow you to:

• Separate business and personal data on the same device

• Remotely secure or erase business data if needed

• Enforce security policies without interfering with personal use

• Monitor business data access without infringing on privacy

• Enable secure access to business resources from a variety of devices

Don't Wait for a Wake-Up Call

You wouldn't let an employee store sensitive client files in their personal storage unit – yet many businesses unknowingly allow the digital equivalent every day. Don't wait for a security incident to take control of your business data.

Contact us today for a free small business IT service consultation to assess your mobile device risks and develop a security strategy that works for your business – without sacrificing the flexibility your team needs to succeed.