It makes sense for institutions to "avoid total chaos" by defining specific devices and form factors they will allow for BYOD, Hunter says. But he advises caution on the question of deleting the user's personal data from BYOD devices, noting the time has come to find creative approaches toward "data sovereignty" adopted in BYOD to be able to delete business data but not delete the personal data.

Ellen Messmer is senior editor at Network World, an IDG publication and website, where she covers news and technology trends related to information security. Twitter: @MessmerE. Email: emessmer@nww.com.

in Network World's Anti-malware section.