A recent survey conducted by enterprise management and security solutions provider Jamf has unveiled a concerning trend in European businesses. The study reveals that a substantial 49% of European enterprises do not have a formal Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) policy in place, leaving them exposed to cybersecurity risks.
Furthermore, as employees increasingly work remotely using personal devices, this lack of structured BYOD policies exposes organizations to threats like data breaches, outdated software, and shadow IT. The survey, which gathered responses from over 100 organizations across Europe, highlights the pressing need for comprehensive BYOD strategies.
Among the survey’s key findings, 43% of respondents expressed heightened concerns about compliance-related issues compared to the previous year. Furthermore, 53% of organizations are actively seeking cost-cutting measures in IT and security, while approximately 67% rely on a limited pool of one to five vendors for device management and security. Notably, 57% of organizations maintain separate teams for device management and security.
To address these challenges, Jamf recommends that organizations implement BYOD or Mobile Device Management (MDM) programs. It emphasizes the importance of engaging employees to promote essential management controls and cybersecurity practices, including timely operating system and application updates.
Establishing baseline standards for devices accessing sensitive business data is also advised to mitigate the risks associated with the lack of a formal BYOD policy.
