BYOD: It's Happening Now

While the idea of bringing your own device to work was alien just a few years ago, the majority of companies now have a BYOD mindset. In fact, nearly 70% of people who need a smartphone or tablet for work grab their own phones before making the commute. In fact, even some schools have started allowing students to bring their own tablets or laptops to work on campus. Services like those from Dell, Microsoft and even Google enable users to communicate and remain productive without restricting the freedom of choice.

BYOD Looks Promising

Studies have shown that most people believe smartphones are necessary for work in today's modern world. When a business successfully implements a BYOD policy, employees are more satisfied with being able to choose their own devices. While employees are footing the bill for their phones, companies can save money. Many staff members prefer the ability to only carry a single phone, and dual-SIM technology can help workers switch from their work number to their personal number on the same device. Productive may even increase as employees are able to complete projects on their smartphones from home.

Another pro for BYOD is how easy it has become to locate or wipe a lost device. Rather than sensitive data becoming available to any random stranger who might pick up the device, remote wiping prevents that information from ever falling into the wrong hands. This feature is available both on Apple and Android devices.

Bring Your Own Difficulties

BYOD hasn't always taken off when companies have instituted it, for example. When the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission moved to a BYOD policy, most employees continued to use the BlackBerrys that they were previously issued due to a lack of device options and issues with payment.

A major concern with firms that do allow employees to bring their own devices is security. When everyone uses the same device that connects to the network in the same way, IT manages can more easily add software such as security programs. Restricting software on a variety of devices provides new challenges.

Furthermore, IT departments may have difficulty working with software on platforms and devices that they are not personally familiar with, which is why some companies that implement BYOD set limits on the models of phones that employees are allowed to use. The fragmented Android market and the increasing popularity of tablets offer more freedom to users, but companies will have to make plans to support various operating systems. While BlackBerry OS was previous the standard for corporate use, Android and iOS smartphones now see a greater amount of market share with Windows Phones in a distant third place.

One pitfall of the BYOD workplace is that employees continue to use data-intensive apps such as those that stream music or videos. If the company is footing the data bill, it can become quite high. Furthermore, those apps can hog bandwidth on wireless networks, so enterprises must be prepared to have broadband Internet capable of handling the load if they plan to implement BYOD.

Making BYOD Sustainable

It's absolutely necessary that network manages examine the network for any vulnerabilities before a company moves to a BYOD policy. Gigabit Internet, encryption and a network that requires a password are the absolute minimum. However, terabit Internet is becoming more common for enterprises with BYOD policies.

It may be necessary for companies with limited technical support to implement specific hours during which employees can go to IT to get support for their myriad devices, especially after the initial move to a BYOD environment. According to a recent survey, up to 44% of companies responded to survey saying that they provide technical support for personal laptops.

Cloud-based solutions that are accessible from the browser can solve some of these problems that BYOD poses. Google Drive is available on all major smartphone operating systems, and apps native to iOS such as FaceTime can even facilitate video calls without the need for a PC or using actual calling minutes.

Employers can help make the switch to BYOD easier by clearly outlining the behavior and software that is allowed on the company network, how to handle lost devices and teaching users about mobile security.

Editor's Note: Jared Jaureguy is a technology consultant for large enterprises. You can read more of his thoughts on his personal blog, Technology Hall.

image source