BYOD policy implementation can be a tricky task. Not only are you trying to ensure compliance, but you also have to ensure that all employees are set up on the new devices and receive ongoing support. Some BYOD policies may not provide cross-device compatibility or place more importance on features than security. BYOD meaning refers to the practice of employees connecting to their corporate networks using personal devices to access work-related systems and possibly sensitive or secret data. Smartphones, personal computers, tablets, and USB drives are examples of personal devices.
Employee Satisfaction
BYOD is an excellent way for companies to increase employee satisfaction while cutting costs. Employees appreciate the flexibility of BYOD, as they can attend to work tasks anytime. According to a recent study by ITProPortal, employees using BYOD devices could spend 20 more hours a day checking their work emails. Furthermore, one-third of BYOD users could check their work emails before the start of the workday.
Evolving business needs and user preferences are driving the BYOD trend. Employees who can complete tasks quickly feel more engaged. According to a recent Cisco study, employees who use their devices for work feel that they have a better work/life balance. In addition, BYOD can also help businesses improve employee retention. However, BYOD is only sometimes suitable for all types of companies.
Costs
Managing the costs of BYOD is more challenging than it sounds. With its numerous advantages and downsides, it can quickly become an expensive undertaking for any organization. IT managers who have rolled out BYOD programs have found that the most important thing is to keep the scope of the programs manageable.
BYOD programs are becoming a common practice in many industries. Gartner estimates that by 2017, half of employers will require their employees to supply their mobile devices. However, the hidden costs of BYOD can easily surpass the savings. According to the Aberdeen Group, a company with 1,000 mobile devices will spend $170,000 yearly to manage these devices. Management overhead costs, such as security, compliance, and wireless carrier charges, are typically hidden in management overhead.
Managing BYOD programs requires some upfront planning and comparison. There are many expenses involved, and it may be necessary to hire an IT professional to determine whether the program will save your company money. These expenses include processing expense reports, paying monthly expenses, and ramping up security. It is also essential to consider the potential damage caused by a security breach.
Security Threats
While implementing BYOD policies, organizations must be aware of the security threats that this practice poses. These threats may range from malware to targeted attacks. BYOD devices are vulnerable to attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in their software. Trend Micro, for example, recently discovered a malware family named DressCode, which was able to disguise itself as games and themes on mobile marketplaces. This type of malware could easily penetrate a company’s network.
Another security concern related to BYOD is data leakage. Since employees often use their own devices to access the internet, they risk downloading sensitive files from the company network. Even worse, lost or stolen devices can give malicious individuals access to the company network. BYOD programs can lead to a data leakage problem, so companies should strictly limit their use of these devices.
Alternatives
Alternatives to BYOD can be implemented for a variety of reasons. A BYOD policy helps employees collaborate and share information, but it can pose various security risks. While some companies will allow employees to bring their own devices, others will require them to purchase new ones. In either case, the employee must purchase a new device if the current one fails security requirements.
The main financial benefit of BYOD is the cost savings for companies in reassigning personal devices. Especially for companies with high staff turnover or temporary workers, the savings are even more significant. In addition, BYOD policies have the potential to boost employee productivity. The downside of BYOD is the potential for data leakage and lost devices.
In addition to limiting the number of information employees can access, companies can also prevent employees from using personal devices. Companies can prevent employees from sharing company information with third parties by making them unusable. Banning employee-owned devices, however, is a controversial decision, and it needs to be more widely accepted by employees. Additionally, employee-owned devices increase the burden on the IT department.
