The IT World's Most Feared New Acronym: BYOD
While the bottom line (net revenue) is important to a businesses finances and success, several companies realize that in order to increase this number it is important also important to increase efficiency. Having an impact on overall efficiency begins from the bottom up: the employees must be satisfied with not only themselves, but their work environment. While providing benefits, flexible schedules, and relaxing dress codes have been common ways to make employees "feel good", a new method is slowly but surely beginning to enter the business world.
Formally, Bring Your Own Device (known as BYOD) policies allow employees to bring their personal mobile devices, such as laptops, smart phones, or tablets, to access company information and data in the work environment. BYOD is beginning to have an impact on several companies in the United States and around the world. While this trend may appear intimidating and currently raises several security concerns, it is a concept that is being "forced" by employees, whether executives prefer it or not.
When considering how BYOD will impact a business, efficiency vs security are not the only issues. The concepts of having employees supply their own devices has several benefits, as well as several concerns.
Pros:
As far as the business is concerned, BYOD enables it to shift cost to the employee. As opposed to providing a company issued tablet or smart phone in addition to having to pay for the associated services (i.e., reoccurring voice and data charges), an environment implementing BYOD enables employees to use their personal devices, therefore (in most cases) leaving the employee to cover the cost of hardware, voice and data services, as well as other expenses. While this may not seem like a large number to begin with, it is important to consider the savings that the business would incur per user. If a small business issues smart phones to each of it's 100 employees, and the voice and data plans are $80.00 per user, if that same company implemented a BYOD policy that's $8,000 in savings. I'm sure it is easy to imagine such savings on a larger scale as well.
Another major benefit (which I personally believe ties into employee efficiency) is employee satisfaction. Generally, people purchase a specific laptop, smart phone or tablet for a few reasons. First, it is new and provides more efficiency than an earlier model; second, the consumer is comfortable with this particular brand and it's usability; third, general preference. With this said, if employees are allowed to use devices with which they are more familiar and comfortable, it is likely that they will be able to perform better. Not to mention, several newer devices can cost thousands of dollars, and I doubt employees would complain if they could find one more reason to use that $2,000 laptop.
The final benefit I will discuss, is that the company may benefit from the new technology that is provided on these devices. Several company issued devices are antiquated, do not have the most up-to-date applications, and are usually slow. Assuming that your employees are savvy consumers, their devices will have newer software, faster hardware, and the user will be able to more easily apply patches and updates more frequently.
Cons:
One of the biggest and most important issues concerning BYOD is compliance and ownership of data. Since employees are allowed to use their personal devices to access company data, it is important to still make sure that users follow particular guidelines. There are several federal information security mandates in place (such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) that still regulate the procedures of a business. While a company can ensure that a company issued device may have all of the necessary components to mitigate the risk of data sharing and theft, it is not guaranteed that an employee's device will be as secure neither physically, nor intangibly.
Another concern is that employer's generally cannot prevent employees from using their own devices as they wish. Company issued devices usually have an accepted use policy to which the employee must sign and comply. When considering BYOD, the IT department loses a lot of control over hardware and how it can be used.
While BYOD may appear risky, there are responsible steps a business may take in order to implement it properly, while protecting it's data, reputation, and employees. It is important to have a BYOD policy in place, in addition to an accepted use policy. Accepted use specific to employee-owned devices should be referenced in the BYOD policy. The policy, should also include clear procedures for several instances such as lost/stolen devices and employee termination (consensual or not).
BYOD can have a positive impact on a business, large or small, but it is important to keep in mind that there are benefits and risks associated with the trend. While it may generally provide the employee with some responsibility, it will still be up to the company to enforce policies and protect data.
Formally, Bring Your Own Device (known as BYOD) policies allow employees to bring their personal mobile devices, such as laptops, smart phones, or tablets, to access company information and data in the work environment. BYOD is beginning to have an impact on several companies in the United States and around the world. While this trend may appear intimidating and currently raises several security concerns, it is a concept that is being "forced" by employees, whether executives prefer it or not.
When considering how BYOD will impact a business, efficiency vs security are not the only issues. The concepts of having employees supply their own devices has several benefits, as well as several concerns.
Pros:
As far as the business is concerned, BYOD enables it to shift cost to the employee. As opposed to providing a company issued tablet or smart phone in addition to having to pay for the associated services (i.e., reoccurring voice and data charges), an environment implementing BYOD enables employees to use their personal devices, therefore (in most cases) leaving the employee to cover the cost of hardware, voice and data services, as well as other expenses. While this may not seem like a large number to begin with, it is important to consider the savings that the business would incur per user. If a small business issues smart phones to each of it's 100 employees, and the voice and data plans are $80.00 per user, if that same company implemented a BYOD policy that's $8,000 in savings. I'm sure it is easy to imagine such savings on a larger scale as well.
Another major benefit (which I personally believe ties into employee efficiency) is employee satisfaction. Generally, people purchase a specific laptop, smart phone or tablet for a few reasons. First, it is new and provides more efficiency than an earlier model; second, the consumer is comfortable with this particular brand and it's usability; third, general preference. With this said, if employees are allowed to use devices with which they are more familiar and comfortable, it is likely that they will be able to perform better. Not to mention, several newer devices can cost thousands of dollars, and I doubt employees would complain if they could find one more reason to use that $2,000 laptop.
The final benefit I will discuss, is that the company may benefit from the new technology that is provided on these devices. Several company issued devices are antiquated, do not have the most up-to-date applications, and are usually slow. Assuming that your employees are savvy consumers, their devices will have newer software, faster hardware, and the user will be able to more easily apply patches and updates more frequently.
Cons:
One of the biggest and most important issues concerning BYOD is compliance and ownership of data. Since employees are allowed to use their personal devices to access company data, it is important to still make sure that users follow particular guidelines. There are several federal information security mandates in place (such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) that still regulate the procedures of a business. While a company can ensure that a company issued device may have all of the necessary components to mitigate the risk of data sharing and theft, it is not guaranteed that an employee's device will be as secure neither physically, nor intangibly.
Another concern is that employer's generally cannot prevent employees from using their own devices as they wish. Company issued devices usually have an accepted use policy to which the employee must sign and comply. When considering BYOD, the IT department loses a lot of control over hardware and how it can be used.
While BYOD may appear risky, there are responsible steps a business may take in order to implement it properly, while protecting it's data, reputation, and employees. It is important to have a BYOD policy in place, in addition to an accepted use policy. Accepted use specific to employee-owned devices should be referenced in the BYOD policy. The policy, should also include clear procedures for several instances such as lost/stolen devices and employee termination (consensual or not).
BYOD can have a positive impact on a business, large or small, but it is important to keep in mind that there are benefits and risks associated with the trend. While it may generally provide the employee with some responsibility, it will still be up to the company to enforce policies and protect data.
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