Once upon a time, the thought of bringing your own device to the office was nearly akin to anarchy. Today, the work environment is much different, with companies throughout the world not only welcoming personal devices but even requiring the implementation of a bring your own device (BYOD) policy.
According to Ntiva, 82% of organizations in 2024 have a BYOD program. One of the reasons for this trend is the realization among companies that a considerable amount of cost savings can be realized when hardware requirements are negated. Plus, efficiencies are introduced when employees can rely on familiar devices set to their own preferences.
At the same time, companies are also considering the benefits associated with keeping employees happy. It’s a competitive workforce, one where changing jobs is a common occurrence, especially among millennials.
Benefits of BYOD
- Accessibility. One significant perk of a BYOD program is that workers with disabilities have more accessibility. Since one device is used for both personal and professional communications, employees are more apt to use their own devices that already have the accessibility features that they need.
- Remote Access. Since so much has moved to the cloud where business applications are concerned, this also means that employees have access to work systems from nearly anywhere. As one could imagine, the line between work and home begins to fade very quickly.
- Field Agents and Telecommuters. BYOD makes it easier for salespeople, field reps, and remote workers to stay connected and productive. It improves work/life balance and reduces stress by allowing them to work without needing to go to the office.
- Enabling Work-from Home Positions. BYOD has also enabled remote-only positions, which boost productivity and worker satisfaction. Remote and field workers feel included in company communication and events.
Drawbacks to BYOD
Despite the benefits, BYOD policies still bring with them several challenges. Allowing many devices to access the network from anywhere in the world introduces vulnerabilities. Decision-makers worry about data leaks and loss as the potential for unauthorized access as more users and devices connect.
Additional concerns include:
- Generational Variances. Multiple generations co-exist in the current employment market, and the response to the work/home blur seems to vary by generation. While millennials may demand clear boundaries between work and free time, other generations seem to be more willing to conduct work and business communication during non-traditional hours or from home. Understanding these differences within the enterprise is important.
- Security Risks. Personal devices might not have the same level of protection as corporate devices, exposing the employers to additional risks of hacking and ransom/malware cyberattacks.
- Support. IT departments cannot be certain that devices are updated promptly with the latest security patches, potentially compromising security.
- Privacy. Personal devices store both personal and work-related data, creating the possibility of unauthorized data sharing between employees and employers.
Benefits Outweigh Concerns
When BYOD programs came into existence, technical teams were unsure how to effectively manage security, privacy, and data ownership. Even while struggling through these growing pains, organizations quickly realized that the advantages they were seeing in better productivity, cost reduction, and improved company culture were worth the work in establishing the policies.
Before BYOD can be adopted, companies must understand current work systems, application demands, and user behaviors. The BYOD policy must then outline:
- Unacceptable actions
- The monitoring software that will be put in place
- The enforcement when policy adherence isn’t met
- The steps are taken when a device is upgraded, lost, or stolen
The policy must also outline roles and information access to ensure confidential information is not accessed by those who lack the credentials to have that information.
Fortunately, there’s software available that can streamline this process, including MDM applications. MDM is a great first step for companies that haven’t yet embraced BYOD but are ready to make it a priority
Managing BYOD Securely
By enforcing BYOD policies, educating employees about security risks, assigning roles and responsibilities thoughtfully, and installing mobile device management (MDM) solutions, businesses can manage BYOD devices securely.
How BlackPoint IT Can Help
If you’re ready to start putting the pieces in place to support a solid BYOD launch in your environment, contact BlackPoint IT Services. Our extensive experience in this and business communications can help you ensure your plan and deployment meet your needs today and in the future.
