Many people may not have any form of virus or malware protection installed, particularly on MacOS computers and mobile phones, which are erroneously thought to be immune to viruses. Dodgy downloads and websites can be a vector for malware, which can unknowingly infect our personal computers, and compromise our data. The way we use personal devices often differs from how we use business ones, as does the protection they have against threats. Chief amongst them is the matter of how you secure these devices, and the potential threats they pose to your business. While this may all sound great in theory, there are some important issues to consider. What are the problems with a BYOD policy? Employees can easily use their personal laptop or phone to access the same files from any location, with the flexibility to bring their laptop to the office, take it home, or work from elsewhere.
EMPLOYEES USING PERSONAL COMPUTERS AT WORK SOFTWARE
The growth of cloud applications and the advent of remote working mean that files and software are no longer tied to specific workstations, or even local networks. The reliance on business hardware is also becoming less necessary, particularly traditional desktop computers. It also means using more energy, which aside from being unnecessary, is also another substantial expense in the present day. Owning two laptops or two phones simply so one of them is isolated to work-related files and apps is wasteful, and contradicts the broad move towards more sustainable business practices. Employees may be happy to receive new hardware, but that doesn’t mean they need it. It can also boost your green credentials.
The same may be true of business phones, with some modern phones retailing for a similar amount to high-end computers. If you need to perform tasks which require powerful hardware, such as video editing or rendering, equipping all of your employees with new computers may be unrealistic. The cost of IT equipment can be high, and never more so than at the present moment, where the pandemic and resource shortages have made components more expensive. A BYOD policy is a way to formally recognise the use of personal devices, and figure out a framework that allows them to operate safely in parallel with business software and systems.Ī BYOD policy can be extremely cost-effective, especially if the company is on the smaller side. While many people casually use their phones to access work emails or files, this usually isn’t considered by the businesses themselves, or even known about. What a BYOD policy does is acknowledge and build a framework for the use of personal devices at work. With most people now owning powerful personal devices, and the ability to easily segment work in specific work software or browser profiles, it makes sense for businesses to use this to their advantage. This can not only be seen as wasteful from a monetary perspective, but also from an environmental one. In the past, many individuals have carried two phones or two laptops with them for work and personal activities. This may include using a home computer for remote working, but may also include bringing devices such as laptops, tablets and phones to the workplace, with the intention of doing work or accessing work resources on them. What is a bring your own device (BYOD) policy?Ī bring your own device (BYOD) policy is the formalisation of something that already happens casually at many companies: employees using their personal devices for work purposes. While personal devices aren’t necessarily inherently unsafe, it is worth thinking about security when adopting a BYOD policy – and making these personal devices as close to work devices as possible from a security standpoint. When personal devices are used for work or connected to office networks, they bring the potential for malware that would have been caught on a business device. What many people don’t realise is that this comes with risks to the business in the form of cross-contamination. With many people already owning laptops and tablets as a matter of convenience or personal preference, it makes less sense for businesses to equip their employees with new ones. Bring your own device – commonly known as BYOD – is an increasingly popular policy, particularly for smaller businesses.