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BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
Many small businesses are allowing employees to leverage their own portable devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones to stay connected on the go. Since customers today demand connectivity around the clock, companies are forced to accommodate them regardless of time, location, or day of the week. Our devices enable us to do just that. However, this convenience does not come without risk.
What is BYOD?
The acronym BYOD stands for “Bring your own device.” With this practice, businesses allow employees to use their own personal devices to access enterprise data and systems for work-related activities. Today, most individuals possess high-end devices that are technologically on par with those they have access to at their workplace or are supplied by their employer. Moreover, smartphones and other portable devices are conveniently within reach of their owners. Today, we have become increasingly integrated with our mobile devices and expect to be able to use them to connect to our company’s networks.
Advantages of BYOD:
• Improved Employee Satisfaction
Instead of using the devices allotted by your company’s IT department, employees feel more comfortable using their own devices. BYOD devices can help companies attract potential talent that seeks flexible working hours and flexibility.
• Reduced Costs
By embracing this policy, organizations can reduce the costs associated with managing, purchasing, and licensing hardware and software. Companies can save a hefty amount if their employees pay for their hardware expenses.
• Enhanced Productivity
Since your personal device is always within reach, employees can stay connected anytime and anywhere. Employees are more likely to work outside office hours, like access to your systems is within reach at all times. When employees can make use of their preferred devices, their productivity increases exponentially.
• Less Dependency on the IT Department
When people bring their own devices, employees are mostly responsible for the maintenance of their own devices. Therefore, dependency on the IT department reduces considerably, and your IT team can focus on value-adding work.
Why do You Need a BYOD Policy?
Organizations can experience benefits from utilizing BYOD, but there are also potential dangers. That’s where a BYOD policy comes in. By allowing employees access to your data and systems with their personal devices, your company can be at risk of a data breach or worse. A BYOD policy will ensure proper IT security measures on these devices are in place to protect your information and systems while balancing your employees' desire for freedom and flexibility.
Conclusion
BYOD has revolutionized how many people do their jobs when they work, and from where. Realizing its clear advantages in productivity and on their bottom lines, businesses across the United States are increasingly leveraging this strategy. However, sensible companies are not doing so without a safety net; if you are going to welcome BYOD, be sure to mitigate risks by having a BYOD policy in place.
Contact Verticomm today to learn how to implement this policy in your organization.