The Security Wild Wild West of Contractors on BYOD Computers

BYOD allows organizations to easily expand their workforce with contractors and freelancers, reducing costs, providing employee flexibility and offloading work from internal IT departments. However, there is one aspect many organizations are not aware of when they eagerly adopt BYOD – security requirements. And as agility and revenue grow from working with contractors in a BYOD model, many organizations are unknowingly stepping into a digital Wild West.

In this article, we explain the security risks in BYOD for contractors, provide examples and list how to overcome them, so you can continue to benefit from BYOD.

BYOD for Contractors: The Security Wild Wild West

While BYOD offers convenience, the lack of attention to security and standardization can lead  to a patchwork of devices and inconsistent practices. This laissez-faire approach can quickly spiral out of control, creating potential vulnerabilities and a loss of visibility over critical data.

Examples of BYOD-related risks include:

• Lack of Device Control – With contractors using their own devices, companies lose control over security settings, making it difficult to enforce standard protocols like encryption, strong passwords, or automatic updates. This makes devices more vulnerable to cyber-attacks, allowing attackers to access sensitive information on the device or exploit it as an entry point to the business network.
• Data Leakage – Saving sensitive company information on insecure personal devices increases the risk of accidental or intentional data exposure. Attackers might access data on the device or the contractor might inadvertently share sensitive information on external apps, like Google Drive or ChatGPT.
• Malware and Ransomware Threats – If an attacker attacks the personal device and is able to enter the business network, they can move laterally inside and inject malicious code. This might allow them to spread malware and ransomware to the corporate network.
• Unsecured Network Connections – Contractors often work from various locations, such as coffee shops or co-working spaces, where they connect to public Wi-Fi networks. These networks are more vulnerable to interception or man-in-the-middle attacks, which attackers might use to access sensitive data or inject malicious code into the device.
• Loss or Theft of Devices – If a contractor’s device is lost or stolen, sensitive company data can easily fall into the wrong hands, especially if proper access controls or remote wipe capabilities are not in place.
• Inconsistent Compliance – Contractors using different devices may not meet industry-specific regulations or compliance standards, leaving the company exposed to potential legal and financial penalties.

Many of these risks are not limited to BYOD, but are also prevalent when employees use managed devices. In addition, there are some security risks that are unique to the BYOD-contractor status. These arise from the temporary nature of employment, diversified employer portfolio and varying levels of loyalty.

They include:

• Data Leakage Across Clients – Contractors frequently work with multiple employers, which increases the risk of data leakage or cross-pollination of sensitive information. Contractors may unknowingly (or knowingly) move data between client networks, leading to potential IP theft or loss of confidential data.
• Lack of Organizational Loyalty – Contractors may have less commitment to a company’s security posture. Their temporary status often means that they lack the same incentives to safeguard data as full-time employees do. This can lead to a lower level of vigilance in following security protocols. Additionally, contractors are less likely to report suspicious activity or raise concerns about insecure practices, which can create blind spots for the security team.
• Incomplete Onboarding and Offboarding – Because contractors are often onboarded and offboarded quickly, organizations might skip key security steps. They might receive blanket permissions without a proper review of role-specific needs, leading to excessive privileges. Offboarding may also be lax, resulting in lingering access even after their contract ends. This situation can become a significant risk if credentials are not promptly deactivated, creating a backdoor into systems.
• Fragmented Identity Management – Contractors using their own devices often juggle multiple identities and credentials across various employers. This fragmentation increases the likelihood of password reuse and weak password practices, exposing systems to brute-force or credential stuffing attacks. Additionally, if a contractor’s device is compromised, attackers could potentially gain access to multiple corporate accounts across different clients.
• Difficulty in Tracking Security Incidents – The ephemeral nature of contract work makes it challenging to track suspicious activities or tie them to specific individuals. Contractors may come and go, using different devices and network access points, making it hard to build a complete picture of their behavior over time. As a result, it can be difficult to detect patterns indicative of insider threat activities or policy violations.

These risks mean organizations lack control over their data and networks and are potentially exposing them to external actors. The results of a breach might be significant, from heavy ransoms and fines to losing customer trust to halting business operations altogether.

Example Wild Wild West Use Cases

Let’s take a look at two different examples about how this security “wild wild west” can play out.

Contractor Call Center Data Exfiltration

Imagine a remote call center that employs a mix of full-time agents and freelance contractors, all using their own devices under a BYOD policy. The contractor’s personal laptop lacks the same security controls as company-issued devices, such as encryption or data-loss prevention software. 

The contractor logs into the call center’s CRM system to access customer details, such as names, phone numbers and payment information. Without proper oversight or security measures, the contractor may unintentionally download and store sensitive customer data on their device. Later, the contractor takes their laptop to a local coffee shop and connects to a public Wi-Fi network to continue working. 

Due to the unsecured nature of the network, a cybercriminal in the same vicinity easily intercepts the unencrypted customer data through a simple man-in-the-middle attack. This breach exposes thousands of customer records, leading to a major data privacy incident for the company. Now, the call center faces regulatory fines, reputational damage, and loss of customer trust—all because one freelance agent’s BYOD device wasn’t properly secured.

Telehealth Compliance Violation

Imagine a telehealth provider that uses a BYOD policy for its contracted healthcare professionals, such as remote nurses and telehealth consultants. During a session, the nurse accesses patient health records, including detailed medical histories, prescriptions and lab results, through a web-based platform. However, unlike company-issued devices, the nurse’s device doesn’t require logging in.

One day, the nurse leaves the device unattended at home, and a family member—out of curiosity—picks it up and starts exploring. Without any security measures to stop them, they unintentionally open the telehealth platform and gain full access to confidential patient information. Not only is this a serious violation of patient privacy, but it also puts the healthcare provider at risk of breaching HIPAA compliance.

Best Practices for Securing Contractors on BYOD Computers

BYOD is a valuable approach, and by implementing security practices organizations can ensure they enjoy the productivity and business benefits while minimizing security risks. Here are a number of best practices that can help:

1. Clearly define acceptable use, security requirements and ownership of data.
2. Leverage containerization or secure workspaces on devices to separate corporate use from personal use.
3. Implement EDR for real-time monitoring and incident response.
4. Apply encryption for all sensitive corporate data stored on contractor devices and for work-related communication.
5. Implement identity verification for device logins.
6. Enforce least privilege access and use conditional access policies (e.g., limiting access based on location, device health, or user role).
7. Implement policies that prevent corporate data from being saved, copied, or shared outside approved apps.
8. Use VPNs or secure connection protocols (e.g., TLS) for all data communication.
9. Enforce full-disk encryption for devices accessing sensitive information.
10. Implement DLP tools to prevent unauthorized data transfer.
11. Provide mandatory cybersecurity awareness training covering phishing, safe browsing, and secure use of personal devices.
12. Perform regular device compliance checks to ensure contractors are adhering to security policies.
13. Ensure the organization has the ability to remotely wipe corporate data from contractor devices in the event of a breach, device loss, or termination of contract.
14. Have a clear incident response plan tailored to contractors, covering data loss, device compromise, and other scenarios.
15. Ensure that contractors are required to keep their devices updated with the latest security patches and updates.

Tame the Security Wild Wild West with Venn

Venn’s Blue Border™ is the first purpose-built software for securely enabling BYOD workforces. With Venn, companies can secure remote employees and contractors on any unmanaged or personal computer without locking down every PC or dealing with virtual desktops.

• Similar to an MDM solution but for laptops – work lives in a company-controlled Secure Enclave installed on the user’s PC or Mac, where all data is encrypted and access is managed.
• Work applications run locally within the Enclave – visually indicated by the Blue Border – isolating and protecting business activity from any personal use on the same computer. 
• Company data is secured without controlling the entire device while ensuring end-user privacy for everything outside the Blue Border.

As a result, IT teams can easily support BYOD workforces without the cost, complexity, and usability challenges of VDI.

See how Venn separates work from personal, enables remote wiping and sharing of company information, enforces encryption and controls login in this short demo video.