It is a policy that has been around for decades – probably since the inception of the modern-day computer. However, while companies may have once been singing from the rooftops about the benefits of bring your own device policies, now this isn’t necessarily the case.
Of course, the initial praise was perfectly understandable. This was something that could save companies heaps of money, for the simple reason that employees were now tapping into their own devices, meaning that businesses didn’t have to purchase quite as many.
As it transpires, the downsides completely outweigh the above. Let’s take a look at just why this is happening.
The big problem: security
In truth, you might be able to get away with some of the other drawbacks that we will speak about. One that companies can’t escape from is the fact that BYOD typically prompts umpteen security risks.
Let’s not forget that we are currently in the era of cyber-crime. Attacks on businesses are on the rise, and the fact some investment firms, like C5 Capital, created by industry expert Andre Pienaar, specifically target those operating in the cyber security space should highlight how huge the market has become.
In short, you just can’t guarantee what type of security has been installed on an employee’s device. In general, it’s not going to be anywhere near as secure as the devices you can offer, and naturally, this poses a problem. It means that suddenly, your company data (and perhaps even that of your customers) is at risk of being leaked to the world.
Compatibility issues
The next reason a lot of companies have turned away from this policy is because of compatibility. As we all know, technology is playing an increasingly bigger part in our jobs – and this means that many of us rely on all different types of software.
Well, if a company is operating with different devices, there are no guarantees that everything is going to run smoothly. Software might not work properly, and this prompts a whole host of efficiency issues.
Support difficulties
As we all know, internal IT teams are the most popular ones in the house. Their phones are constantly ringing, with everyone trying to get a slice of their support.
Well, if they are having to support umpteen different devices, this is obviously very difficult. Each device might have its own processes, meaning that the team will have to have immense training in a bid to cover everything. Suffice to say, this just isn’t possible.
The Big Brother-factor
Like it or not, a lot of companies like to keep tabs on their employees. They monitor their internet usage, to ensure that they’re not visiting anything that might detriment the company.
Well, as soon as a BYOD policy comes into the picture, this becomes difficult. You can’t ask to install software on a worker’s device – it’s just not reasonable. Ultimately, this means you have significantly less control than what you would if such a policy was not in place.
