http://www.yourtechtamer.com/blog/2013/09/its-friday-so-how-about-byod-nope-not-a-typo/
When will “techie” people ever get tired of acronyms? Probably never. It’s a Friday afternoon, so I’m thinking about the BYOB (Bring Your Own Bottle) policy that one of the local eateries has, and trying to decide if that would be a good place for dinner. Enter into my mailbox a questions about BYOD (note the ‘D’ replacing the ‘B’). Is this person asking me about dining out options (with a typo)? Nope. They are asking about ‘Bring Your Own Device’ in the workplace.
Huh?
BYOD means that employers don’t require employees to use the employer’s technology, but rather, the employee can use their OWN technology to connect into the employers systems, allowing the employee to work on equipment that is FAMILIAR to them. With the advent of laptops, tablets and smartphones, people want to connect to information using WHATEVER device they have handy, from WHEREVER they happen to be. Not in the office? No problem…give me a minute to sign in and I’ll get you that answer.
What’s good about this trend?
BYOD is only getting more popular. Don’t like that Blackberry that work gives you? Forward your email to your iPhone. Need to finish up a project before a big meeting tomorrow? Don’t stay late to get it done. Go home, have dinner with your family, put the kids to bed, then sign in to the system at work to finish off the document. Employees who have BYOD available to them tend to be more productive. Gotta love that!
What’s bad about this trend?
The data from the company is more ‘at risk’. The more people can access data from a myriad of places, the greater the potential for a data breach.
So, what’s the answer. Well, BYOD is a trend that is continuing. In fact, it will only increase. Therefore, companies should take the money that they would have spent on desktop/laptop hardware replacement and invest it into better security. Install a VPN. Monitor access of information carefully. Put alerts into place for signs of abuse.
Studies have shown that workers and students are far more productive if they are working on their own devices. The additional productivity can MORE THAN offset the additional cost of putting good security in place.
Above all, put your policies for BYOD into writing and get every employee/consultant to sign it – agreeing to your terms and conditions.
If you’re interested in learning more, there’s a great article here:
http://customizedwhitepapers.s3.amazonaws.com/EduDow-BYOD101/BYOD101.pdf
I did not author it, but I think that it lays out the pros/cons quite well…and clearly, confirms that BYOD isn’t going away!
