Once upon a time, the thought of bringing your own device to the office was nearly akin to anarchy. Today, the work environment is much different, with companies throughout the world not only welcoming personal devices, but even requiring the implementation of a bring your own device (BYOD) policy.
According to Gartner, BYOD will be a requirement in more than 50 percent of workplaces by the end of the year, and 85 percent by 2020. One of the reasons for this trend is the realization among companies that a considerable amount of cost savings can be realized when hardware requirements are negated. Plus, efficiencies are introduced when employees can rely on familiar devices set to their own preferences.
At the same time, companies are also considering the benefits associated with keeping employees happy. It’s a competitive workforce, one where changing jobs is a common occurrence, especially among millennials. When technology is lacking, or legacy systems and processes are enforced that don’t match with current trends, companies find it harder to compete for quality talent.
Even with these promised benefits, however, BYOD policies still bring with them a number of challenges. Allowing myriad devices to access the network from anywhere in the world introduces vulnerabilities. The 2016 Crowd Research BYOD & Mobile Security Report cited protecting data as the top concern for companies considering BYOD. Decision makers are concerned with data leakage and loss as the potential for unauthorized access to the network intensifies with multiple users and devices.
Before BYOD can be adopted, companies have to understand current work systems, application demands, and user behaviors. The BYOD policy must then outline:
- Unacceptable actions
- The monitoring software that will be put in place
- The enforcement when policy adherence isn’t met
- The steps taken when a device is upgraded, lost, or stolen
The policy must also outline roles and information access to ensure confidential information is not accessed by those who lack the credentials to have that information.
Fortunately, there’s software available that can streamline this process, including mobile device management (MDM) applications. MDM is a great first step for companies that haven’t yet embraced BYOD, but are ready to make it a priority in the new year.
If you’re ready to start putting the pieces in place to support a solid BYOD launch in your environment, contact Copper State Communications. Our extensive experience in this and all things business communications can help you ensure your plan and deployment meet your needs today and in the future.
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