A BYOD program gives employees the freedom to bring their devices to work. But it can also create security issues. However, before implementing a BYOD program, make sure you understand the risks.
Employees’ right to bring their own devices to work
BYOD (bring your own device) to work is an increasingly popular trend in the modern workplace. Unfortunately, the rapid technological changes make it difficult for businesses to keep up. A recent study found that most employees prefer to complete work-related assignments on their devices. This is especially true among millennials, who now make up the largest percentage of the workforce. These employees view their devices as an extension of their lives. They also believe that integrating work and personal life improves their job satisfaction.
Regardless of the type of device used by employees, employers must maintain policies addressing the risks associated with using personal devices on the job. Personal devices can lead to liability for employers, as employees may use them to send harassing text messages, inappropriate pictures, and videos to colleagues. Employers should remind employees to use good judgment when communicating with coworkers and to keep their devices updated with the latest software and security updates.
A recent study found that 49% of employees are more productive when using their devices at work. One reason is the difficulty in collaborating with coworkers on unfamiliar devices. People also avoid interacting on a device that they do not trust.
Challenges of the BYOD policy
A BYOD policy for employees has many benefits, but it can also pose some challenges for employers. Using personal devices in the workplace can lead to rogue devices, compromising sensitive company data. While BYOD advocates argue that personal devices are more productive than business ones, this is not always true. Allowing employees to bring their own devices may hurt productivity. For example, employees may use their smartphones instead of company-issued devices, which can lead to procrastination and other distractions. Ultimately, setting boundaries for the acceptable use of personal devices is the most challenging part of a BYOD policy.
Another challenge is scalability. A BYOD policy can increase employee satisfaction. But it may also result in conflicts with labor laws. For this reason, the policy must be communicated to employees. Furthermore, a BYOD policy may increase IT and security infrastructure costs. Companies may need to upgrade their network to accommodate the increased traffic.
Benefits of BYOD
BYOD brings many benefits to a company. Not only does it improve communication between employees, but it also decreases IT costs. In addition, employees are more likely to take care of their devices, which means that organizations will save on updates and repairs. It also blurs the line between personal and work devices.
When establishing a BYOD program, make sure that you create policies that will keep employee data safe. You can form a team of stakeholders, including people from finance and human resources and the IT operations and security departments. It’s also important to get employee input when developing BYOD policies, as employees will not be willing to participate in a too restrictive policy.
Another benefit of BYOD is that employees have more flexibility. For example, employees can work from anywhere if you have a BYOD policy. This is especially beneficial for salespeople, who are often reluctant to use a keyboard. Likewise, entry-level candidates can work outside of office hours.
Security concerns with BYOD
One of the biggest security concerns with BYOD bring your device is that company data is on a personal device, making it vulnerable to unauthorized access. Companies must address this issue in their BYOD policy. However, this is not an easy task. There are several aspects to consider when creating a BYOD policy.
The first consideration should be the security of the device. While many companies benefit from reduced hardware and software costs, BYOD also adds additional responsibilities to the IT department. These departments must maintain the devices and ensure they do not expose their network to unnecessary vulnerabilities. As a result, some IT departments are hesitant to implement BYOD, and 26 percent say they do not plan to adopt it. The most common reason is security concerns.
Another concern is a leak of confidential data from the device. This can happen when the device is stolen or misplaced, or even if it gets malware. Although cloud technology mitigates this risk to a large extent, organizations should still implement strong security measures. Mobile device management (MDM) and intelligent data provisioning are two major steps that can help protect the data on a BYOD device.
