Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is a growing trend for businesses and is a great fit for the fast-paced, hybrid environment many of us now work in.
The idea of BYOD is to let your employees use their own devices – laptops, tablets, mobile phones, etc. – for work purposes.
Whether you’re a business owner or an employee, your initial response to the idea is likely a positive one. And it can be a very positive move to make. But as with most things, there are two sides to consider.
What are the pros of BYOD?
Here are the five top reasons some businesses prefer the BYOD system:
1. BYOD can save you money
Equipping your team with the necessary hardware they need makes the list of ‘significant costs’ for a business. Using old tech comes with its own risk, making investment in shiny new PCs, laptops, mobile phones, and tablets unavoidable.
Introducing a BYOD policy can save you money on purchasing or renting devices and training in using them. This could save your company upwards of £2500 per employee, per year[1].
2. Save time and money on training
Not all employees can adapt quickly to new devices or operating systems. Some may be used to Windows OS while others are more familiar with Mac OS.
A BYOD arrangement means employees can work with the devices and systems they are most comfortable with, making them work more efficiently and removing the need for additional training.
3. Increased productivity
With a BYOD model, your employees are working on devices they are accustomed to which is likely to enable them to complete tasks with more efficiency.
With the right cloud-based infrastructure in place, BYOD also enables effective remote working. Working from their own laptop or tablet, employees can make use of long commutes and benefit from a healthy work/life balance with home working options.
4. Everyone’s happy
Whether you provide a basic easy-to-get-on-with device or top-of-the-range gadgets, you won’t please everyone.
Studies have found that, on average, 60% of employees are happier in their jobs when able to use their personal devices.
Studies show that happy employees are as much as 20% more productive.
What are the cons of BYOD?
Sold on BYOD? Well, let’s look at the downside first. It’s great for many businesses but not all.
1. Diverse devices
Having your team spread across different operating systems, software versions, and different device models can be a real drawback. Company software may be compatible with some and not with others, and file-sharing can become challenging to say the least.
This hurdle can be navigated by restricting your BYOD policy to specific devices or creating different directives and procedures. But it’s important the efforts are worth the benefit to your business.
2. Distractions
When using the same device across both personal and business use, it’s human nature to be tempted by distractions such as social media, games, and life-admin tasks. Restricting access to these apps can be tricky ground to tread as an employer and could jeopardise pro #5 (employee moral).
That being said, there are tools you can use to help your employees manage time effectively and ensure productivity doesn’t fall.
The Tasks app within Microsoft Teams brings together individual tasks and team tasks. This is a great tool to help everyone focus on their own to-do list whilst considering the impact of their progress on the rest of the team.
3. Security risks
Of course, the benefit of BYOD enabling employees to work flexibly and remotely can bring security concerns. The risk of a cyber attack as a result of a lost or stolen device is increased by 40%.
Then there’s the added risk of how the device is used aside from work, such as connecting to unsecured WiFi networks and accidental installation of malicious apps.
But there are steps you can take to mitigate these risks:
Enterprise Mobility Management: Establishing a set of policies and processes that ensure the security and appropriate management of all mobile devices.
Mobile Device Management: A third-party software you can manage in-house, or a service your IT provider may offer, to monitor and secure any mobile device within your business including laptops, tablets and mobile phones.
Mobile Application Management: A third-party software that controls business-use apps.
4. Legal challenges
Things can get tricky when employees are using a device they own, to access data you own.
For this reason, it’s important you have a clear BYOD policy in place. The policy should cover topics such as sharing, accessing, and retaining corporate data in detail, and be made easily available to everyone.
5. Data retrieval
If an employee leaves your business, it will be necessary to retrieve all company data from their personal device. In some cases, accessing personal devices could become a little sensitive and perceived as an invasion of privacy.
A safe way to circumnavigate this is to ensure your IT team or IT provider has agreed remote access to all BYOD devices through your policy.
We’re here to support and guide
At Jupiter IT, we live by what’s right for our clients. It’s clear that BYOD has many benefits but is it right for your business and your employees?
If you’d like to discuss introducing something new, we can help. From new software to systems and processes, we’re on hand to guide and advise so your business gets the most from its tech.
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