Increasingly, more workplaces are allowing bring your own device programs when it comes to personal smartphones and tablets among employees. Though many organizations have yet to come up with a complete policy, and some have no policy in place, there are some general concerns that need to be met in businesses. The top ones include ease of use and privacy and security of the BYOD technology.
In a recent MaaS360 blog post, there was a call for “flexible corporate policies powered by automated controls found in enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions. This umbrella coverage of mobile device management (MDM), mobile application management (MAM) and secure content sharing are the only scalable answer to secure and productive BYOD.”
One continuing security-related concern is malware, given that apps are not always vetted. USA Today, for instance, reported how one bank estimated that 10 percent of its malware came from employee-owned devices.
Network and corporate data can also be misused, another concern. Client lists and other files may need to be monitored when an employee leaves for another workplace. There is also a concern when devices are lost or stolen. In addition, healthcare, finance and other regulated sectors need extra security, too.
In a recent Ovum (News - Alert) survey, it was estimated that 20.1 percent of employees who use personal devices at work ever signed a company governing policy. The percentage who signed such a policy and work in the United States or India is about 50 percent.
It was also shown that in mature economies, some 44 percent of employees use their devices in the workplaces. On the other hand, about 75 percent of users in emerging and high-growth markets use their own devices at workplaces, the Ovum study said.
There are challenges ahead for BYOD. Workplaces need to confront them.
Edited by Rachel Ramsey