In the past, companies have had a singular message regarding employee’s devices: leave them at home. But with the massive influx of personal technology there is a fresh perception that recognizes the cost-effective, efficient benefits connected to a BYOD (bring your own device) work-place.
Companies now have the resources to utilize a method where authorized devices operate in conjunction with company-owned devices. Similarly, companies will also employ shadow IT, which operates outside of that organization’s central IT system.
While the financial benefits can have a huge impact on a company’s bottom line, there is a cause for concern regarding an employee’s ability to access the network and/or data of a corporation when BYOD is the adopted procedure.
Companies are minimizing risk to their information by employing BYOD policies. These policies ensure a level of accountability between the companies and their employees. The policies typically outline software that manages the connection between device and company network, as well as a written agreement that designates both accountability and the responsibilities of all those involved.
IT has historically been a specialized field, but the consumerization of IT has changed the playing field. So much so that there is benefit to realizing that employees are bringing their tech devices to work whether or not they’re approved. Richard Absalom, an analyst at Ovum, found that fighting to keep employee-owned devices out of the workplace may be more costly than it is beneficial.
“Trying to stand in the path of consumerised mobility is likely to be a damaging and futile exercise. We believe businesses are better served by exploiting this behaviour to increase employee engagement and productivity, and promote the benefits of enterprise mobility,” he says.
BYOD introduces a new set of security risks; that fact is certain. What is also certain is that the trend reduces costs, and promotes efficiency. Not only that, but since employees are likely to BYOD regardless of their employer’s regulations regarding the practice it makes sense to accept the trend, and implement strategies that will safeguard all those involved
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