BYOD: The Issues to Be Aware Of

BYOD: The Issues to Be Aware Of

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Adopting or continuing a BYOD policy in your workplace can be problematic if you don’t go about it in the right ways. Read the article here to find out more.

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The thought of employees bringing their own devices to work was something of a no-brainer for most SMEs several years ago. After all, the equipment cost savings were tremendous. What’s more, it also increased the chances of employees doing even more work once they arrived home.

Well, times have changed. There are now umpteen considerations if you’re thinking about adopting a BYOD policy in your company. Sure, it’s by no means out of the question. However, read on to find out what you really need to think about before adopting it.

Education About Risks Associated with BYOD Is Key

As we have just alluded to, there are now a lot of potential security risks that come with allowing employees to bring their own devices to work.

For starters, employees need to be aware of the risks of doing so. They need to know how to keep their devices secure, for example, as well as how to spot potential security threats. They also need to understand what to do if they think their device has been compromised.

You also need to make sure that your employees understand your company’s security policy. What is and isn’t allowed? What happens if they break the rules?

A lot of SMEs don’t even have a security policy. Make sure you don’t fall into this camp and make sure you communicate your policy at the first opportunity.

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How Will You Support Your Employees?

You might run the most high-tech company on the planet, but that doesn’t mean that your workers are going to be immune from tech problems.

In fact, with the sheer number of devices and operating systems out there, it’s more likely that high-tech companies are going to have to deal with technology issues more often.

So, how are you going to support your employees with their technological issues? Are you going to have a dedicated IT support team? What happens if they need help outside of work hours?

Let’s not forget that when you supply the equipment, your IT team is fully familiar with the hardware and operating system you have chosen. However, when employees bring their own devices, this is no longer the case and you lose a huge degree of control. This is where it may even be wise to consider a business IT support service.

How Will You Manage Data in a BYOD Environment?

Data management is another key consideration. After all, you need to make sure that all of your company’s data is stored securely and that only authorized employees have access to it.

You also need to think about what happens if an employee leaves the company. How will you make sure they don’t take any sensitive data with them?

How Will You Deal with Costs Related to BYOD?

Contrary to popular belief, BYOD is not a “free” solution for businesses. There are a number of costs that come along with it, including the costs of:

  • Setting up and maintaining a secure BYOD infrastructure
  • Data plans for employees who use their own data
  • Business IT support
  • Employee training

Make sure to incorporate all of the above, and potentially more, into your budget.

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