There definite perks to allowing workers to use their own devices....but there definitely some downsides as well.
Bring your own device (BYOD) has been touted as the newest cost-saving innovation in the business technology world. However, if your company wants to try out BYOD, you need to consider the pros and cons and develop a definitive policy.
Pros of BYOD
Care
Employees are more likely to take better care of their own equipment than company equipment.
Convenience
Most employees already have their own smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Letting them use their own devices gives them less stuff to carry and keep track of.
Efficiency
When employees use their own devices, the company doesn’t have to spend resources managing all these devices.
Productivity
Having a constant link to the office in their pocket gives employees the ability to work when and where they prefer.
Cons of BYOD
Privacy
With personal and company data being stored on the same device, precautions need to be put in place to prevent sharing the wrong data with other employees.
Compliance
It’s unlikely all your employees will have the same devices, which can make creating compliance policies difficult.
Compatibility
Another problem with employees’ devices having different software and configuration is compatibility. It’s not uncommon for devices to have limitations when trying to integrate with each other.
Security
With a wide range of devices from different manufacturers and different security features, ensuring every device that accesses your network and shared files is up to date can be difficult.
For some businesses, BYOD is a great way to reduce costs and increase productivity. However, any company that wants to pursue this option needs to weigh the above-mentioned pros and cons to decide if it’s right for them.
