The Privacy and Security Concerns of BYOD

InsideCounsel quoted Chicago attorney Brian Jackson in the September 24 article "The Privacy and Security Concerns of BYOD." Bring-your-own-device (BYOD) is the practice of employees using their own personal electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, in the workplace. This growing trend raises privacy and security concerns and can cause legal problems for employers. Legal ownership of devices may determine how far employers can go in protecting company data on these devices. Brian recommends that companies maintain ownership of devices while allowing employees to select them. He added that employees who do participate in BYOD programs should be required to sign a binding agreement before being allowed to access company resources with their personal devices. "BYOD blurs the lines between the personal and business worlds of employees like never before. At the same time, there is no bright-line rule for protecting employers' assets without running afoul of the courts and alienating employees."