Mobile devices are challenging the traditional perception of the office environment. When employees bring their own devices to work, this is called Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), and it’s an increasingly popular trend. Initially thought of as a threat, BYOD is proving to be a valuable option for businesses wanting to increase productivity, so long as it’s regulated properly.

Security Issues
One of the biggest causes for concern with the BYOD market is the security of your data. Businesses that take advantage of employee-owned mobile devices will undoubtedly be taking sensitive information and other company-owned data on the road, which presents a problem for businesses that like to have full control over the deployment and distribution of their data. Businesses that want to fully leverage BYOD need to address this concern.

Take, for example, the employee who stores sensitive client or company information on their mobile device. If this device isn’t properly regulated or monitored by a company policy, there’s nothing stopping viruses or malware on the device from attacking sensitive information. There’s also the risk of the device getting lost or stolen, putting your data in the wrong hands. The employee might have had the honorable intention of working during the off-hours, but now there’s an important data leakage problem.

The most common solution to concerns over BYOD data leakage is to integrate a mobile device management (MDM) solution. An MDM is a software solution that helps businesses restrict what’s capable of accessing data stored on applicable devices. Apps can be restricted or allowed access to data depending on their uses. In the event of a device being lost or stolen, or the employee leaving the company, you can revoke access to company data and even wipe company data off the device.

The Benefits of BYOD
When properly implemented, a BYOD policy for your business can be exceptionally powerful for reducing costs and increasing productivity. According to ITProPortal, there are three major reasons that BYOD is great for small businesses:

• Greater productivity: Letting employees use their own devices for work will yield more productivity, mainly due to employees being comfortable with their own devices. Think about it; would your employees rather use company-provided tech, or devices that they’re already familiar with? It makes perfect sense. Plus, employees who use their own devices can get work done in the off-hours, which will lead to even more productivity.
• Cost-efficiency: There’s no reason to purchase new devices for your employees to use outside of the office if they already own devices themselves. Most professionals these days own a smartphone, which makes it much more cost-effective to let employees use their own devices. The more money you save on not purchasing devices, the more you can invest in other profitable initiatives.
• Consistent updates: Employees that use their own devices are more likely to apply the critical patches and security updates required for maximum security. Since these employees use their devices every day, they’re more likely to notice problems and resolve them quickly. Doing so shores up issues that could turn into bigger problems later on.

Embracing BYOD doesn’t have to be challenging. If you want to get started with integrating employee-owned mobile devices into your workplace environment, reach out to Network Synergy today at (203) 261-2201.