Using your personal laptop, smartphone, or tablet for work may sound risky at first, but it can actually help you keep your business safe.

Known popularly as “Bring your own device”, or BYOD, the practice of working from personal devices is a growing trend for enterprises of all sizes. While security is a real concern with BYOD, a recent survey found that employees are actually more cautious when using a personal device for work purposes: Only 5 percent of employees consider themselves very likely to open an email from an unknown sender when they are using a personal device. However, when using a work device, that figure doubles.

While malicious files and emails are a leading cybersecurity threat, they are not the only concerning threat. Here are three best practices to help you secure your personal device at work and minimize risk for yourself and your business.

Store data in the cloud

One of the biggest security hazards for BYOD include employees storing secure work data on their personal devices, which are not subject to the same safeguards as your work computers. In fact, fifteen percent of employees store data on personal devices. If your personal device is lost or stolen, the risk doubles: not only do you risk your sensitive data falling into the wrong hands, but your company loses all of your hard work as well.

Be careful in public

Working from an airport lounge or cozy cafe may sound nice, but there are risks to working in public. Approximately 83 percent of respondents to one study said they have used a computing device in a public place while having confidential data on the screen. Always remember to remain aware of your surroundings when you use a personal device for work when out of the office, especially if you have sensitive data on-screen.

Don’t ignore update notifications

According to CIO Magazine, the focus for many companies concerned about data security has shifted from identifying external threats to managing internal users. Companies do this by making sure employees update their personal devices. Many routine software updates improve security, and even your seemingly inconsequential apps can turn into major security liabilities if not tended to. Fortunately, this is an easy fix – just pay attention to those update notifications!

A Partner in IT Mobility

Following these three tips can maximize productivity out of your devices while minimizing worry. SSI has a suite of tools to help ensure BYOD services.