BYOD has become increasingly popular over the past few years, and the pandemic has only accelerated its use and acceptance. This use of BYOD has radically changed how IT departments manage the use of devices in the workplace. In fact, there are many advantages to having a BYOD policy, both for your company and your employees.
What Is BYOD?
BYOD means Bring Your Own Device. It refers to the ability of your employees to use their personal devices for work purposes. Under the umbrella of BYOD are BYOP (Bring Your Own Phone) and BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology). Devices will have the employee’s personal apps and data on them but will also make it possible for the employee to access company systems and data.
Benefits of a BYOD Policy
The benefits of a BYOD policy can be split into the benefits for the company and the benefits for the employee. Let’s take a look at each.
For the Company
A BYOD policy for your company can benefit you in the following ways:
- Costs less – You will not have the cost of supplying and supporting physical devices to employees. The employee’s service provider is responsible for the device support and service, and the employee maintains the apps on their device. All your IT department needs to do is push the right work-related apps to the device and implement the appropriate security measures.
- Increased productivity – Employees who can use their own devices are already familiar with those devices and can work more quickly on them. There is no learning curve involved. These devices are also kept up to date with the latest technology, which employees can leverage to get their work done as efficiently as possible.
- Better employee retention – Employees will feel less stress when it comes to completing their daily tasks and improve their morale. This will encourage them to stay with your company, ultimately reducing your recruitment and training costs.
For the Employee
Employees also enjoy a number of key benefits with a BYOD policy. These include:
- Increased convenience – When employees can use their own devices, they have fewer devices to manage and can seamlessly move back and forth between their personal and work life.
- Better customization – Employees who can use their own devices can customize them to their preferences, making their work experience easier and more enjoyable, further increasing their productivity.
- Improved work-life balance – Employees can experience greater flexibility during their workday, making it easier for them to transition between personal and work life. This helps them maintain a better work-life balance, making it easy to work from home or elsewhere outside the office when required.
Security for a BYOD Policy
When implementing a BYOD policy, you must also implement stringent security measures. Even though the employee is using a personal device, they must be the only ones to have access to it. This means:
- Ensuring the strict use of passwords, PINs, and biometric settings to ensure that only authorized individuals can gain access to the device
- Installing only essential applications on an employee’s personal device to reduce the risk of data breaches or issue with malware
- Implementing solid procedures for offboarding an employee who leaves the company to ensure that all company-related apps and data are removed from the device
Contact Platinum Technologies today to learn how we can help you develop and implement an effective BYOD policy for your company.
