Is a BYOD Policy Right for Your Company?
BYOD, or bring your own device, policies are becoming more common in workplaces around the world. More and more companies are allowing their employees to use their personal devices for work purposes in an effort to increase productivity and keep up with the times. However, there are a number of factors to consider when deciding on BYOD policies which must be taken into account before implementing them.
4 Major Factors for Choosing a BYOD Policy
Cybersecurity is of utmost importance in today's world, and businesses cannot afford to have their networks compromised by malicious threats. That's why it is important to determine if a Bring Your Own Device policy is the right step for your business, and which one will work best for you and your team. They can create a number of cybersecurity risks for businesses if not implemented correctly, but they can also help alleviate some of the roadblocks teams face in terms of achieving greater efficiency.
1. Price
The most cost-effective and beneficial element of BYOD policies is that the company does not have to purchase a smartphone or laptop for every employee. Furthermore, people are more likely to take better care of items they own versus those given to them, which will cost the company less money on replacement devices.
It also becomes the responsibility of the employee instead of the employer to replace lost, stolen, or broken phones. However, the business needs to be able to remotely wipe all data from the device so that it cannot be accessed by unauthorized users.
Keep in mind that Bring Your Own Device policies still have costs associated with them, which can be expensive depending on the policy itself. Because BYOD expenses are unique to each situation, it's crucial to gauge an accurate assessment of all potential costs; this way you won't be blindsided later down the line. To get an accurate projection of costs, reach out to both your accounting and IT departments or hire an IT consultant.
2. Remote Access
Previously, only a handful of industries utilized remote work. However, the recent changes over the past few years have seen a major shift to people working remotely or in hybrid situations.
With more and more people working in these situations, employers have been forced to prioritize IT access from anywhere. The growing adoption of cloud technology has allowed employees to store and edit data remotely with ease.
Yet, it poses potential security risks, such as workers using unsecured devices to get information from the company network which might be unintentionally inviting attacks. Despite this risk, permitting employees to work from home could have its benefits if the right cybersecurity measures are put into place. Just make sure the policy you decide on covers these potential threats.
3. Productivity
Do you find yourself in this situation often? You're a dedicated Apple user, but then you start a new job and they use Windows. As one would expect, those who have used Apple products for a long time are more skilled in using Apple technology, while those who have primarily used Windows PCs are more familiar with the Windows operating system.
When you allow your employees to use the devices they are most comfortable with, it results in less time wasted trying to adapt and more time spent being productive.
4. Security
The BYOD policy will never be fully safe unless the security aspect is always considered and improved. When employees are allowed to bring their own devices, the company becomes more vulnerable to security breaches. Therefore, a better cybersecurity plan must be put in place in order to protect both employee devices and the confidential information stored on them.
Final Thoughts
It's evident that the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend isn't going anywhere soon and will most likely become more popular, especially as younger generations who are tech-savvy enter the workforce. Even though it might be appealing and work for some businesses, it may not be the best decision for yours.
If you want your BYOD policy to benefit your company and help it reach new heights of success, then consider partnering with an IT strategy consultant such as PCS Technology. Together, you can decide if a BYOD policy is right for you and craft a uniquely tailored policy that will be optimally suited for your business. If you have any further questions, please contact us.
PCS is a world-class leader in protecting data & identity for businesses and non-profits. We provide a critical service to businesses and non-profits by managing cybersecurity risks, including ransomware, crypto walkers, phishing emails, and other evolving cyber crimes. See how IT services can benefit your company.