Is BYOD Right for You?
There has been much discussion and debate about whether Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is the best way to manage the mobile devices employees use for company business. There are many factors that must be considered when deciding whether to implement a BYOD policy. The pros and cons for each particular business and situation should be reviewed and clearly understood.
Read our article: Is BYOD Right for Your Business? Pros, Cons & Pitfalls.
BYOD allows employees to use their personal mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, notebooks, etc., to do company business, connect with its networks, access its data and more. Carrying only one device may be a positive to some employees, and using personal phones can save the company cost. However, there are numerous caveats and complexities that may not be immediately obvious. As a starting point, consider the following:
- Cost – while businesses save money in some situations, it is often less than expected when all direct and indirect expenses are included. Sometimes it is actually more expensive.
- Security – allowing/requiring employees to use their personal phones creates numerous security concerns that can pose serious threats. Compromised networks, stolen data, malicious activities and more are real concerns.
- Information Ownership – phone numbers of personal devices used for business and data residing on the phones can be out of control of the business and lost when an employee leaves. This is especially problematic when the employee leaves on bad terms.
- Control – businesses cannot maintain the same level of control over personal devices as company owned. This makes it harder to enforce business policies about usage, access and other issues. A mobile device management system (MDM) can help, but can still fall short.
How to Decide
When deciding whether to implement a BYOD policy it is best to perform a comprehensive analysis of the business needs, environment and other factors. It is important to implement a MDM system and other procedures if BYOD is selected. Grudi Associates mobility professionals can guide you through the entire decision-making process and assist with optimal implementation, policy development and outsourced services whether BYOD is chosen or not.
Get much more information by reading our article: Is BYOD Right for Your Business? Pros, Cons & Pitfalls.
For more information, contact us at anytime.
