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Many employers entrust employees with a host of expensive work-issued devices. From computers to smartphones to tablets, many of the gadgets we use on a daily basis are provided by our respective employers. Unsurprisingly, failing to properly care for these devices can bring about serious consequences for both ourselves and the businesses for which we work. Anyone looking for effective ways to protect their employer-issued devices would do well to avoid the following mistakes.
Using Work Devices for Non-Work Purposes
At some point, virtually everyone has used work devices for non-work purposes. However, while this may strike you as harmless, treating employer-issued gadgets as personal electronics can have a number of downsides. For starters, if it’s discovered that your work devices are loaded with personal apps and files. Your employer is liable to become upset with you and perhaps go so far as to take disciplinary action. Secondly, if any of your devices become compromised or virus-riddled as a result of personal use. Both you and your employer stand to experience far-reaching consequences.
Of course, if your devices fall victim to cyberthreats throughout the course of regular use, your employer is still likely to be upset. However, they’re practically guaranteed to be even more perturbed in response to problems. That occur as a result of you using these devices in ways they were never intended to be used. So, for the good of your continued employment, draw a clear line between personal devices and work devices.
Failing to Keep Software Up to Date
System updates are essential to keeping your work devices – and any internet-enabled devices. For that matter – safe from a wide assortment of threats. Operating system and software updates are often created for the express purpose of combating newly emerged cyberthreats. And the longer you wait to install them, the more vulnerable your devices are going to be. So, no matter how cumbersome you find installing updates, you’d be wise to avoid placing them on the backburner.
Not Using Dependable Antivirus Software
While it’s true that modern-day operating systems are far more resilient against viruses than the O.S.s of old, this doesn’t make dedicated antivirus software any less essential. So, if any of your work devices are currently bereft of dependable antivirus software, don’t hesitate to equip them with it. The right program will be able to identify and combat a rapidly expanding number of viruses and other cyberthreats, thus providing your devices with first-rate security. For maximum effectiveness, take care to install software updates as soon as they become available.
You should also make a point of running regular virus scans with both your operating system and dedicated antivirus software. Fortunately, these scans can often quietly carried out in the background without interfering with any other activities you’re engaged in. If you can’t be bothered to manually initiate virus scans. You can schedule them well in advance. For best results, run at least one system-wide virus scan every 24 hours.
Leaving Work Devices Unattended
No device containing your personal information should be left unattended in public – and this is doubly true for work-issued devices. So, the next time you’re at a coffee shop, restaurant or any other public space in which people set down their phones and computers, make sure that any devices you have on hand are always on your person. Leaving a device unattended for a few seconds is all it takes for a thief to snatch it off the table and make their exit. No matter how confident you are in the security of your favorite haunts, never leave your work devices – or personal devices – unattended.
The average modern-day office worker has a smattering of work-issued devices to keep track of. Not only do people rely on these devices for their jobs, said devices also contain a wealth of private information about their respective employers.
As such, any mistakes made with devices issued by your employer can prove consequential to both you and them. So, if the level of care you show your work-issued devices leaves a lot to desire. It’s in your best interest to get a handle on the situation. By steering clear of the missteps discussed above, you can effectively keep your work gadgets out of harm’s way.