Devices adopt human-like characteristics, especially when they have a more extended period with their owners. This unique association of the owner is often observed when people leave their devices at home and have to build new acquaintances with those in the office. It takes time to get used to and feel comfortable with those new devices.

 According to a survey, 69% of people in Spain and 61% in the USA use their smartphones and laptops for work purposes. 50% of working staff believe that they are more comfortable with their own devices than those they use in the office. Another 64% say they are already using their tools at workplaces, in one way or the other. Moreover, it is stated that 16% of employee productivity increases over a 40hourwork-week. 

If you are addicted and dedicated to your mobile phones, laptops, and iPad, and you have an intense yearning to use them at the workplace as well, BYOD is for you. So we are here to answer this query:

What is BYOD?

Bring Your Device is the policy that allows the working staff to bring their own devices like smartphones, laptops, or pads to the workplace. BYOD or Bring Your Device will enable employees to use their tools in the office or outside the office. It means you can work in the office, utilizing your tools. And if you are at home, you can do the task at hand using the same devices. 

BOYD is cost savings, provides comfortability for employees, connects employer and employee, and above all, it is productive. 

Now the question would be in your mind: Is it safe to allow the working staff to work from home and in-office, using one’s own laptop and smartphone?

Well, before jumping to BYOD, you must consider three things.  

Three Considerations for B.Y.O.D 

The idea of BYOD is appealing, but it is a risky job in one way or the other. How can one trust if he or she is doing the task at the office with the device that will find the way home with its owner? There is a high fear that the data could be mishandled, leaked, and misused. 

  We have brought some considerations for the employee and must be kept in mind before adopting the BYOD policy. 

#1. Security

In BOYD, security must be the first consideration. One’s precious and sensitive data can be leaked, malware, and misused. Unfortunately, it has happened many, many times. The question arises:

How can you make sure that your data is safe? Well, it depends on your company and its nature. Since we are here offering some suggestions. By consulting your legal expert, you can make sure the following things:

• Passwords and Credentials must be in your domain.

#2. Tech Support 

You can now seek help from technology and find the right answer before moving to BYOD. 

New technology will help you in answering queries like 

• What type of devices can be used or allowed?
• How can the data be secured?
• Is it safe for the company to go for BYOD or not?
• If yes, how should data be secured and its misuse prevented?

#3. BYOD Policy 

The last but most important consideration should be: to have a body policy for BOYD. Let’s suppose you allow the employee to work for the company using his tools. What would be your BYOD policy to ensure that data will not be stolen or breached? 

Here are four strategies that can be fulfilled for the Body Policy. 

• First, fulfill security and technology requirements. It means in case of data loss, everything should be in your control, from lock to disable the device. 
• Secondly, end the access to the data once the employment is over. No accessibility should be granted to the data like emails, texts, etc., post-employment. 
• Thirdly, the device’s ownership and reaching the data must be disabled after completing the project. 
• Lastly, a signed copy of a personal file should be kept so that a legal procedure would be followed in case of data theft. 

Conclusion

These are the primary three considerations that can minimize the risk of BYOD and avoid data loss, theft, and misuse. BOYD is a desirable policy, especially in this era. But every system has its pros and cons. You are requested to consider all of them before jumping to the BYOD mechanism.