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I have been sifting through various media outlets, and there
has been a lot of focus on BYOD; how we need to incorporate this, understand
it, adopt it, etc. Well, what exactly is BYOD, and more importantly, why should
you care?
For the last few years I have been trying to understand what
BYOD is, and how it will affect me. Often times, I considered it a trend that
would soon pass. Well, it’s beginning to look like this movement is here to
stay, so here is what you need to know:
What Is It?
First of all, BYOD stands for Bring Your Own Device. Sounds
simple enough, but what precisely does that mean? Think about your mobile
device. How often do you use it, and what for? Work? Games? Social Media? All
of the above? Even at a full-time job, where the company grants you a company phone,
how much do you use that phone except to check work-related emails? With BYOD, the
idea is for you to bring your own device to the work place and use it for both corporate
and personal needs. But this doesn’t just have to happen in the work place. This
movement has been occurring on college campuses for years. Now more than ever, students
are bringing laptops to class to take notes instead of the traditional pen and
paper. And most likely, while these students are on their laptops, they are
also checking school email, their personal Facebook, and playing games, all
while connected to the university network. So, if students and employees are
already using their devices to access company/school information, why try and
stop the trend?
The Good News and The
Bad News
There are a few concerns from business owners about what
BYOD can do to their business. There’s the threat of a data breach on said
device and also liability issues. For example, say you’re a business owner, and
you allow your employees to use their cell phones to check work email and
access any work-related data. While most employees will have locks on their phones,
there could be that one that doesn’t. If that one employee loses their phone,
any company data stored could be at risk for a breach. And then there’s the
issue of liability. If the phone gets damaged, and the employee is not at
fault, who is responsible for the repair?
That being said, there are some advantages to allowing
employees to bring their own device. First of all, businesses that allow their
employees this privilege will save money on mobile devices. Instead of buying
each individual a company work phone, the individual can just use their own.
Most people will spend the money to buy a high quality mobile device for
themselves, so why not incorporate it into their profession as well? And, if
you have ever had to have a company-issued work phone, that can be quite a
challenge to keep up with. I personally have never had to keep up with 2
phones, but I have watched countless colleagues and friends try to keep their
work phones and personal phones separate, and it just looks complicated. Also,
since employees get to choose the device themselves, this could improve morale
and productivity, since the employee has control over the device.
How Does This Affect You?
Starting in 2011, this trend really started to take effect,
and almost 90% of employees are using their own devices in the work place. You may
already be a part of this and not even realize it. As I started learning more
about this trend, I realized I am as deeply involved in this movement as the
rest of the 90% in the business world. During a typical workday, I am working
away on my company PC, sending emails, doing research, and communicating with
partners. As soon as I leave my desk, my phone goes with me. Every day at lunch
and every night after work I catch myself checking my work emails on my iPhone,
making sure there is nothing that needs to be handled right away. Whether you
agree with this notion or not, there is no doubt that this is the prevalent
means of communication, and research indicates it will only increase.
So what do you guys think? Are you satisfied with using your
own device for professional and personal use, or would you rather have 2
separate devices? Let me know in the comments, and please feel free to ask any
questions!
Until next time,
Julie Heinrich
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