Whether employers are prepared or not, the BYOD revolution is already taking place as more and more workers are turning to tablets and other mobile devices to access company data and network resources. But what is ahead for BYOD?
This shift from an office-bound workforce to a mobile one has the potential to be very rewarding for both employees and businesses, but the way BYOD operates now is a very employee-centric movement. According to a recent report on Forbes, what is being dubbed as “BYOD 2.0” will shift from an employee-centric idea to one that is more business-centric.
The general idea of BYOD being employee-centric means employees are using their device for personal use, but little else. While companies are reaping certain benefits by adopting a BYOD program, the aim is to swing the pendulum the other way by using devices for work as opposed to just bringing them to work.
BYOD is not without its challenges. Companies are faced with security concerns, mobile device management and deployment. In order to successfully start a BYOD program, businesses must secure access, ensure network capacity and a good mobile device management solution.
Compromise is of great importance to BYOD, as IT managers must allow users the freedom to work while offering enough by way of rules or practices to keep company data safe. But according to Yaacov Cohen, CEO of harmon.ie, it’s not about compromise, it’s about convenience and getting work done. The emphasis is on the user experience without being stuck to a computer or laptop.
Today’s IT managers will have to analyze the recent development of BYOD environments within their corporate IT infrastructure, review permission schemes and devise IT concepts in such a way that they will not be overrun by any external development, and at the same time, make it work for the business and the employee.
“IT needs to switch from being a gatekeeper to being a technology opener. It is not about chief information officer. It is about chief innovation officer,” said Cohen to Forbes.
BYOD is not a decision that can or should be made by IT alone. It is not just about productivity, but about trust as well. The employee needs to trust the employer in regards to possibly managing their personal device. The employer needs to trust the employee to be responsible with the ability of using a personal device to do work.
Where the business and employee intersect lies the future of BYOD.
Edited by Rachel Ramsey