The BYOD Trend

Bring Your Own Device or BYOD is one of the most talked about trend last year. Basically, the trend calls for the attention of both the corporation and employees to utilise what they have on hand. In BYOD, employees are given the freedom to bring their devices may it be smartphone, laptops or tablets to their office and use those personally owned gadgets to access the company’s applications such as documents, printers, scanners, etc. The trend boomed last year as it has garnered a growing attention in the world of information technology. In fact, some advantages and disadvantages were laid down the table as the trend continues to grow.

ADVANTAGES OF FOLLOWING THE BYOD TREND

1. Lower cost for corporations. BYOD generally attracts the employees to bring their preferred devices to work. This has implies a positive effect to companies because purchasing a significant amount of costly equipment will not be regarded as vital. And since employees use their own personal devices, they are expected to take extra care of the gadgets. Sometimes, breakages and wastage occurs because people do not regard the company’s properties as important.
2. More flexibility for employees. Since employees will be given the freedom to access their files using their own gadgets, the works that need to be done will not only be confined in offices. For this reason and another, employees enjoy more their work because they are not forced to use corporate-issued devices which are most of the time, not their preference. Some employees tend to be more productive when they use their own devices because they like them so much that they had invested their own money in them.
3. Better standing for the business. Studies show that 44% of job hunters find companies more attractive when they follow the BYOD trend. A defined policy for the BYOD trend will surely fish top players in the industry. The trend will be advantageous if the company wants to win a person to take over their competition.

DISADVANTAGES OF BRINGING YOUR OWN DEVICE

1. The cost of the trend will be shouldered by the employees. Following the trend will create a dilemma for those employees who do not want to have a device that can be used to access company information even in mobile mode. You cannot expect everyone to have the same preferences. If you are an employee who does not throw much attention to technology, knowing that your company follows the trend will make you feel hanging. The gravity of the agony will be double when the company did not state that the cost will not be shouldered by them.
2. The security of the confidential files. It’s a general knowledge that companies can’t afford to lose their data. If you are the company owner, it’s quite understandable if you will have a little hesitation to give your companies the full freedom to access your company’s information even if they are out of the corporate vicinity. Negative thoughts such as leakage to the competitors and “What will happen when the employee decides to leave the company?” will surely arise.

CONSIDERATIONS WHEN IMPLEMENTING THE BYOD TREND

1. A strong policy. Although given the freedom the access to company’s confidential files even in mobile mode, employees should still follow a set of rules to ensure that the company’s code of conduct will not be violated.
2. An established access. When implementing the trend, IT managers should be strict when giving access to employees. The access should be tailor-fitted to what the job description of the employee. To outline which access should be given to an employee, the question of “Who needs what and for what?” should be answered.
3. The right management tools. Data should still be controlled whenever files are being accessed on mobile. IT managers should configure the network access of the users by providing an authentication. 

BYOD is a trend that should be utilised to positive use. Be sure that before implementing a trend in your own workplace, considerations and concerns were outlined first to avoid mistakes, data loss and information theft. BYOD is just one of the benefits that you can utilise when you decide to get the managed document services of Capita Document & Information Services. To know more about our other services, reach us through phone at 0800 313 4910.