Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) practices are gaining traction in the IT industry as organizations continue to look for ways to reduce costs and increase employee satisfaction. The modern workforce is increasingly tech-savvy, and employees are often more comfortable using their own devices than those provided by an employer. BYOD allows employees to access corporate systems while capitalizing on their familiarity with a given platform or device.
What is BYOD?
Bring your own device (BYOD) is an IT strategy that provides employees with the capability to use their personal devices such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets for work-related activities. According to a survey from Zippia, over 83% of organizations worldwide have adopted a BYOD strategy, increasing flexibility and enabling employees to work with devices they own.
What Does BYOD Stand For?
BYOD stands for “Bring Your Own Device”. It is a policy where employees are allowed to use their own devices in an office or corporate setting.
Why BYOD is a bad idea?
The biggest issue with BYOD is a security risk. While allowing employees to use their own devices for work can be efficient at first, these personal devices are not always updated or monitored like company-owned devices. If the device is lost or stolen, corporate data stored on the device could be compromised. Businesses must also consider how to ensure the privacy of employee data stored on personal devices.
The Benefits Of Bring Your Own Device
Employees Are Familiar With Their Personal Devices
When employees use their own devices, it can increase engagement amongst them as well as overall satisfaction in their job. They are likely to feel more satisfied knowing that the company trusts them enough to let them bring their own device into work. Allowing them to work on a device that is comfortable for them also gives them flexibility over how they prefer to complete tasks instead of having to conform to a strict set of rules laid out by an employer’s tech policies.
Employees Always Have Their Mobile Devices
It’s much easier to use personal mobile devices for work. If you utilize a VOIP phone system, downloading the phone provider’s app will allow you to use your personal device for both work and personal calls. It’s much more convenient because you won’t have to carry multiple devices for your job. Plus, your employer can implement a mobile device management tool to professionally protect your personal devices from hackers.
Cost Savings For Employers
The cost savings benefits associated with byod devices in the IT industry should not go unnoticed. By allowing employees to use their own devices for work purposes, organizations can take advantage of significant cost savings. First and foremost, companies no longer have to purchase new hardware for each employee as they can use their existing devices. This can lead to a decrease in both capital expenditure and operational costs.