Beyond VDI: Security Patterns for BYOD and Contractors in 2025

Remote work is no longer a contingency – it’s the operating norm. Yet the security posture for that work often leans on virtual desktops as a default, even when the workforce is dominated by bring‑your‑own‑device (BYOD) users and short‑term contractors. Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) can centralize risk, but it can also centralize failure, expand the admin plane, and add latency that users will work around. This piece examines when VDI stops being the safest choice and what to use instead. I’ll compare concrete control patterns, such as secure local enclaves, strong identity guardrails…