The Pros and Cons of BYOD
In a world where technology is constantly changing and evolving, it can be almost impossible to keep up with the latest shifts and trends, especially for large companies managing complicated systems. But, it’s much easier for individuals to stay on top of the latest trends, and they often do.This is why, more and more, employees like using their own devices at work rather than relying on technology that may be outdated or hard to use. This desire has fueled a trend called Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).
The BYOD to work movement is taking the enterprise by storm and doesn’t show any signs of slowing. This new movement is often more productive and cost-effective for companies, but not always. There are a lot of perks to the BYOD movement, but also a lot of risks.
Before you put a BYOD plan in place, explore some of the Pros and the Cons of BYOD in 2017.
Pros of BYOD
Some of the more obvious perks to a BYOD environmentcircle around employee satisfaction. Workers know their own devices, they like them, they want to use them. When they are allowed to use their own devices, rather than an outdated or unfamiliar device provided by their company, they are happier.
But the perks go beyond happy employees. They also tend to be more productive on their own devices. They can share information faster and easier, work faster, and when they have their devices on them all the time, they can work anytime, anywhere.
And, of course, if companies no longer have to provide devices for their employees, there is a significant reduction in cost to the organization.
Cons of BYOD:
But, as cost-effective and efficient as BYOD can be, it also has it’s downfalls.
Since devices brought from home are not fully regulated or monitored, they can threaten IT security in multiple ways. They may not have the correct security software installed and if they do, the owners may not always update that software, leaving devices, and information, vulnerable to viruses. This possible loss of sensitive information and vulnerability to viruses is another reason BYOD can be dangerous.
We all know, probably from personal experience, that devices get lost. When they are personal devices, we simply go out and buy a new one. But what happens when that device has been used to send or receive confidential documents? What’s the risk of someone finding that phone and accessing those documents? This is a risk that hasn’t been fully explored in a BYOD world but is certainly something to consider.
Given these risks, an IT department may have to spend extra hours preparing and integrating employee devices to work with already established technology and security.
In the long run, prepping personal devices to work with company security and technology may cost more than simply providing devices.
It’s important to know both the advantages and possible risks before deciding whether or not to implement a BYOD policy. But, regardless of what you decide, you should have some sort of policy in place, whether that means not allowing them at all or on a limited basis, there should be clear guidelines.
If you decide to implement a BYOD strategy, make sure you have a communication system that works across all devices and helps your employees get the most from their day. Consider a Millennia & Mitel solution where you can get Direct Inward Dialing numbers (DIDs). These are virtual numbers that allow you to route calls to your existing telephone lines. DIDs allow you to be able to assign certain employees a direct number, without requiring multiple physical phonelines.
