Mobile phones and laptops have become an integral part of many companies. They’re used for anything, from emails to taking notes during meetings. As such, IT departments must balance employee needs against security concerns. Additionally, Chief Technology Officers and IT Officers must determine how much influence they wish to exert over their employees’ personal devices and what security policies to implement. That’s where the dilemma of BYOD vs CYOD comes in.
Employee-owned devices vs company-owned devices. Some organizations allow employees to bring their own devices (BYOD) into work, while others require all devices be owned by the organization (CYOD). A common misconception is that BYOD means no one can access the data on a user’s phone or tablet. This isn’t true; however, it means fewer restrictions on who has access to the data.
Some employers allow employees to use their own devices without restrictions. This approach lets employees do whatever they like with their phones and tablets, including installing personal applications that could compromise network security or expose confidential data. At the opposite end of the spectrum, companies require that employees use approved corporate-owned devices and enforce strict rules regarding usage.
Between those extremes lies a middle ground where employers offer employees the flexibility to use their personal devices while ensuring that there aren’t too many exceptions. Much of this depends on the available business resources, security solutions, employee mobility, and whether the company has any existing mobile device management (MDM) solutions.
Arizona businesses’ fundamental question is whether to go the BYOD or the CYOD route. To help you determine which option makes sense for your organization, we’ve put together a guide to the pros and cons of each approach. We’ll discuss the following topics:
Table of Contents
• Explaining the Pros and Cons of BYOD vs CYOD
• Security Risks Associated With BYOD vs CYOD
• What is an MDM Solution, and Why Should You Consider It
BYOD Explained
About half of US organizations already have some form of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy in place, according to a recent survey conducted by Gartner Inc., a research firm specializing in information technology. This figure includes both large and small businesses. So what does this mean? It could simply mean that employees are bringing their own devices into the office, such as tablets, laptops, smartphones, and even smartwatches. Or, it could mean that employees are accessing corporate data via their personal devices, such as email, calendars, documents, and other files.
The reasons why organizations adopt BYOD policies vary widely. Some do it because they want to save money. Others do it because they want their workers to become more productive. Still, others do it because they want control over how their employees access company data. Whatever the reason, the bottom line is that BYOD adoption is growing rapidly.
BYOD Benefits
There’s no doubt that BYOD can benefit an organization in several ways. First, it allows employees to work smarter. They can access all sorts of tools and resources from anywhere at any time. Second, it helps reduce IT costs. Since most people already have a phone or tablet, they won’t need to purchase new hardware. Third, it encourages innovation. It allows employees to try out new technologies without worrying about breaking anything. And finally, it improves productivity. Workers can get things done faster than ever before.
Cons of BYOD
While there are many benefits to implementing a BYOD policy, there are also potential downsides. Here’s a look at the most common ones:
- Lost Devices – Because employees aren’t required to return their personal mobile devices to IT after leaving the workplace, they’re much more likely to leave them behind. And once they do, it becomes difficult to track down the missing hardware.
- Increased Costs – The cost of replacing lost devices can add up quickly. For example, an iPhone 6S Plus costs $1,099, while a comparable Android phone costs just $400.
- Privacy Concerns – Some people view using their personal mobile devices for business purposes as violating privacy. As a result, morale suffers among employees who feel like their private lives are being monitored.
Security Risks Associated With BYOD
If you decide to allow employees to use their own mobile devices in your office, you’ll want to ensure that you address these risks. Here are some things you should consider doing:
- Train Employees – Ensure all employees understand what information is confidential and how to protect it—also, train employees about the dangers of sharing sensitive information via social media or email.
- Restrict Access – Limit employee access to certain types of files, such as financial records and proprietary information. This will help keep those files safe from theft.
- Encrypt Data – If your organization uses cloud-based applications, encrypt all data before it leaves your organization’s premises. Doing so will prevent anyone with physical access to a stolen device from accessing any of its content.
CYOD Explained
The concept behind CYOD is pretty simple. Companies allow employees to choose what type of device they want to use while working. This could include smartphones, tablets, laptops, and even desktop computers. Employees can purchase their own devices or select one of several preapproved options offered by the employer. Some employers offer a stipend or reimbursement program to help offset the cost of purchasing a device.
Companies in every industry and of all sizes have adopted CYOD policies, and while each approach has pros and cons, CYOD seems to work well for most organizations. Here are three reasons why you might consider adopting CYOD:
Increased Employee Productivity
Employees typically spend about half of their day away from their desks. If those employees are forced to carry multiple devices, it becomes difficult for them to keep up with tasks. One study found that workers who used two devices performed better than those who used just one. Another study showed that employees who had access to multiple devices could complete assignments faster than those who didn’t.
Improved Employee Satisfaction
Many studies show that employees who feel empowered by their work environment tend to be happier and more productive. When employees can choose their own devices, they’re free to pick whichever device suits them best. In addition, they don’t have to worry about whether or not the device they chose is compatible with the software they need to perform their job duties.
Device Types
Most CYOD policies limit which device options can be used on the corporate network. You should make sure that these restrictions align with your business needs. For example, if you’re in the healthcare industry, you’ll probably want to restrict mobile phones because they pose a risk to patient privacy.
The device choice is entirely up to the employee, but some companies require that employees use only approved devices. For example, if an employee wants to bring his smartphone into the workplace, he may be required to use a company-issued phone instead.
Device compatibility is also important because many businesses rely heavily on specific apps. For example, if your company uses Salesforce CRM, you won’t want employees using a different app, such as Google Docs, when performing critical sales activities.
Mobile Application Management
When you adopt CYOD, you gain control over how your employees interact with third-party mobile applications. Many enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions provide this level of granular control. For example, you can disable push notifications for specific apps or block access to sensitive information stored within those apps.
How Will Device Ownership Affect Your Business?
If you decide to provide employees with their personal devices, you’ll need to determine how ownership will affect your organization’s IT infrastructure. Will you manage all devices centrally through a central management console? Or will you distribute devices to individual users? How will you handle lost or stolen devices?
Will You Offer Financial Assistance?
Some businesses offer financial assistance to employees who buy their own devices. These programs usually reimburse employees for the total price of the device plus a small fee. The amount of money you pay out depends on the number of devices purchased.
Will You Provide Training?
You may also want to consider offering training to new device owners. This way, employees won’t have to learn how to use unfamiliar technology on their own.
Advantages Of Using A Mobile Device Management (MDM) Solution To Manage Your BYOD Policy
An MDM solution helps you enforce your BYOD policy in several ways. It provides an easy way to configure mobile devices based on company requirements. It can also help you monitor usage patterns, detect unauthorized changes to settings and block malicious activity.
Here are some benefits of using an MDM solution:
Enforce Company Policies
An MDM solution allows you to define rules that govern how mobile devices operate within your network. For example, you can limit which apps can run on employee devices, set time limits on how long a user can browse the web, or restrict certain types of activities.
Monitor Usage Patterns
An MDM solution can track when a device connects to Wi-Fi networks, sends text messages, or makes calls. It can also alert administrators if a device’s battery level drops below a specified threshold. This information can help determine when a device needs to be charged or replaced.
Protect Against Unauthorized Changes
An MDM solution can prevent users from making changes to device settings without your approval. This includes things like changing the phone number associated with the account or adding new contacts. It can also stop users from installing applications not approved by your organization.
Block Malicious Activity
An MDM solution lets you scan all incoming and outgoing data traffic for known malware. This ensures that no sensitive company information leaks out accidentally.
If you use an MDM solution to manage your BYOD policy, you’ll enjoy the following advantages:
Eliminate Security Risks
You won’t have to worry about keeping track of each device. With an MDM solution, you can easily assign permissions to groups of devices instead of having to approve every single device individually. That means you reduce the risk of someone stealing a device or losing one that was stolen.
Minimize IT Costs
You don’t have to pay extra to support each device. Instead, you only need to purchase one management tool that works across multiple devices. That means you save money by avoiding additional hardware costs.
Improve Employee Productivity
Employees will appreciate that you’ve taken steps to ensure they’re getting the most out of their mobile devices. They’ll feel more comfortable knowing that their devices are secure and can access important files whenever they want.
Learn More About Managing Your BYOD Policy
As you consider whether an MDM solution is right for your organization, here are three questions you should ask yourself:
What Are The Features I Need?
First, think about what type of security controls you need. Do you need to control who has access to different types of content? Do you need to disable specific functions on employee devices? What kind of monitoring do you need?
Do You Have The Technical Resources To Support An MDM Solution?
If you plan to deploy an MDM solution, ensure you have enough technical resources to maintain it. Also, remember that you may need to upgrade your existing infrastructure as you add more devices.
Wrapping Up
BYOD vs CYOD comes down to the freedom of choice, which we all value, service costs, security measures, and security features when deciding which policy to adopt. However, if you choose to go ahead with a BYOD policy, take precautions to protect against unauthorized changes. If you’d like to learn more about how an MDM solution can help you manage your BYOD policy and keep your organization’s data safe, contact us today to speak with our team!
On the flip side, if your team wants to deploy a CYOD policy, be sure you’re ready to handle the challenges with this approach and send us a message.
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