Should You Adopt a BYOD Policy?
BYOD, or Bring Your Own Device policies, continue to grow in popularity among employers and employees alike. BYOD is an IT policy that allows - and often encourages - employees to use their personal mobile devices and laptops to access corporate data and systems.
A BYOD policy can save employers the trouble and expense of supplying company devices, and empowers employees to use the devices they most prefer.
But, what impact could a BYOD policy have on your workplace, and are the benefits worth the potential risks?
Is BYOD Worth It? 4 Considerations
While BYOD policies have become quite popular, they are not always right for every organization. When considering adopting this type of policy, it’s important to take into account the pros and cons, and decide if a BYOD policy makes sense for your business.
1. Cost
This is, perhaps, the biggest or most attractive benefit of BYOD policies. When employees bring their own devices, you won’t have to buy a smartphone or laptop (or both) for every one of your employees. Employees are likely to take better care of their own devices, meaning cost savings for you on replacement devices. Additionally, it isn’t necessarily your responsibility as their employer to replace any devices that break, or are lost or stolen.
It is important to remember that BYOD policies still incur costs, and sometimes they can be considerable. BYOD expenses are varied and are largely based on what kind of policy is put into effect. So it’s critical to get the most accurate numbers for your cost assessment. To do so, you’ll need the help of both your accounting and IT departments, or an IT consultant.
2. Security
Security is the most important aspect of a quality BYOD policy, and without it, your company risks a security breach. When employees bring their own devices, there are naturally going to be more security risks to consider and mitigate. This takes a more complex cybersecurity plan to keep employee devices, and the company information stored on them, safe.
When considering BYOD costs, it’s important to account for enterprise-level security solutions for employee devices.
3. Remote Access
Outside of a few industries, remote work was not relevant for many employers just a few months ago. But the COVID-19 crisis, and subsequent stay-at-home orders, have put remote access at the forefront of many company’s IT priorities. Coupled with the growing adoption of cloud technology, BYOD policies allow employees to store, edit and access data from anywhere.
On the flipside, this again brings up the issue of security. However, with the right cybersecurity measures, the benefit of employees being able to engage in workplace activities from home may be worth it.
4. Productivity
Can you relate to this situation? You’re an Apple devotee through and through, but you land a new job and they use *gasp* Windows.
As would be expected, historic users of Apple products are proficient in using Apple technology, while historic users of Windows products are more accustomed to Windows operating systems. Adapting to a new operating system at work can be a challenge for employees, and decrease their productivity. A BYOD policy allows employees to use the devices that provide them with the highest degree of comfort and boosts their productivity.
So Should You Adopt A BYOD Policy?
There’s no doubt that the BYOD trend is here to stay, and will likely continue to grow, especially as younger tech-savvy generations enter the workforce. However, while it may work well for some organizations, it might not be the right choice for yours.
Ultimately, BYOD policies should have some organizational benefit and help you take your business to new levels of success. Partnering with an IT strategy consultant can help you to make this decision and craft a unique BYOD policy, designed specifically for your business.
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