BYOD, or bring-your-own-device, is getting a lot of hype today from various companies that implement BYOD programs. BYOD is a new and fast-growing concept that originated from employees bringing their own smartphones to work.
While only about 36% of companies have a BYOD policy according to one study, it is a fast-growing idea that will have over half of the world’s businesses using it in 2017, says another study. It’s such a popular concept, that 69% of IT leaders say it’s positive for businesses. Continue reading to learn more about what BYOD is, and how it can benefit your business.
What Is BYOD?
BYOD is a phrase used to describe the practice of allowing employees to bring their own electronic devices to work, and use them on the company network. This may include laptops, PDAs, smartphones, tablets and other computing devices. With BYOD, employees use the same device for both personal and business reasons.
Before this, companies issued the same device to each employee, and only allowed them to use it while at work. With BYOD, employees can use the platform of their choosing, and the company’s IT department will configure the device with the proper tools, apps and access to the network. Many companies allow employees to choose between company-provided devices or to bring their own, giving them several options.
In some cases, businesses choose to reimburse their employees for the device, data usage and other expenses. Even if the company does choose to pay for mobile plans and upgrades, allowing your employees to use the device of their choosing for work-related purposes still comes with many benefits.
Benefits of BYOD
The reasons that BYOD is becoming popular is because it’s benefiting both businesses and their employees, increasing satisfaction on both sides to help the business run more smoothly. In fact, it’s helping run businesses so productively that in the United States, businesses are seeing 81 extra minutes of productivity per week from each employee who uses their own devices at work. Check out these other benefits of BYOD.
Benefits for the Business
Along with increased productivity comes many other benefits for businesses, including the following advantages:
Businesses can save $1,300 per year, or more, for each employee. Companies with more than just a basic BYOD policy can save over $3,000 for every mobile employee.
They can better promote a greener environment with BYOD.
It helps improve workplace satisfaction.
BYOD saves time since businesses don’t have to train employees on how to use unfamiliar devices.
As Accenture.com puts it, “User acceptance is higher, which not only improves productivity but also enhances the relationship between IT and employees.”
It helps attract new employees, with 44% of job seekers saying that they look at a business more positively if they can use their own device there.
Benefits for the Employees
BYOD is particularly beneficial to employees, and because the programs help increase employee satisfaction at work, it makes them more productive. Here’s an overview of some of the reasons employees love BYOD:
They have the freedom to choose their own device.
They can choose a device that they’re familiar with instead of having to learn an entirely new platform.
It can help reduce or eliminate a personal cell phone bill when their company pays for it.
Employees feel a better sense of work-life balance.
It helps them get work done on-the-go.
By being able to connect to the company network anywhere, they can head to their child’s soccer game or on vacation all while getting work done. This increases their satisfaction in their job, and promotes productivity.
It makes employees feel like their employer trusts them.
BYOD is simply more convenient.
How to Incorporate it in Your Business
If you’re considering implementing BYOD into your business, there are several things that you’ll need to consider first. Consider implementing a mobile device management solution and outline a security policy when you begin using BYOD in your company.
Implement a Mobile Device Management Solution
When businesses started using BYOD, one of the biggest concerns lied within security. How would personal data and corporate data work on the same device? Luckily, there’s a solution to that. With mobile device management (MDM), IT departments can separate personal and corporate data on a personal device.
Outline a Security Policy
While BYOD offers employees some freedom with their devices, it’s not meant to allow complete freedom. With your BYOD program, you need to include a security policy to keep your corporate data safe. Follow these tips for outlining a security policy:
Define exactly what “Bring Your Own Device” means. Can employees bring smartphones, tablets and laptops, or can they only bring smartphones? Can they use only BlackBerry smartphones, or can they choose a different platform?
Outline whether you will have to approve devices before employees can use them. Today, 43% of companies with BYOD policies require device approval.
Require every device to have a password. With so much sensitive data on your network, it makes sense to make sure it’s safe by requiring secure passwords on connected devices.
Have your IT department control which types of apps employees can download for corporate use.
Consider if and how you will reimburse employees for their devices or ongoing services.
Look at what kind of support your IT department will offer to BYOD devices.
Decide whether you’ll give loaner services if an employee’s device needs repairs.
Outline who owns the rights to the apps and data on the device. In the event that someone steals the device, it’s important to know who has the rights to wipe or restore the data.
Set up a strategy for what will happen when employees leave the company.
With the benefits of BYOD comes more and more companies that are implementing a BYOD policy and allowing employees to bring personal devices to work, so don’t fall behind on this trend, and start saving money and increasing productivity in your own business by using BYOD.
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