We are finally picking up the BYOD series where we left off. Got sidetracked there for a while during some transition between blogs and with the ITSM Rhino site pre-launch. To recap, here is a list of the previous posts in order:
- BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE (BYOD): FRIEND, FOE, OR BUSINESS F--KERY
- BYOD RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT FREAKING NOW!
- THE BYOD OPPORTUNITY: RETHINKING HOW TO GET S--T DONE
- BYOD ADOPTION - WHAT'S THE RUB?
- BENEFITS OF THE BIG BAD BYOD
Now that we have the intro and apologies out of the way, let's get on with it.
The Risks vs. Reward
Like any technological innovation, BYOD and the cultural and behavioral practices that go with it offer both risk and reward.
Even though 74% of businesses are adopting BYOD to some extent, not everyone is jumping in. Some are opposed because they see no need, while others are opposed due to security concerns.
The Main Obstacles to Adopting BYOD:
- Data security risks
- Privacy concerns
- Legal ramifications
- Hidden costs
- Compliance issues
Others are still evaluating the opportunities, benefits, and risks and, wisely, do not want to make a hasty decision. The specific risks to your business and employees who use their own devices will vary depending on the depth and breadth of the adoption. There are some universal risks of which you should be aware:
Integrating Devices and Interests
Suppose your employees use a personal device for work. In that case, it must be integrated into the business network. It also must be capable of connecting to the devices of colleagues. Business data must also be partitioned to keep personal data separate from work data. If your mobile device is hacked, your data could be stolen, deleted, or corrupted.
Loss of Time or Productivity
An employee who doesn't have access to a device or data will not produce quality work. Employees may also spend too much time using their devices for personal purposes.
That’s it for now, my next post will be on legal stuff related to BYOD. Let me know what you think?
I only hit on three risks so feel free to share some of the others you can think of here in the comments. Would love to hear from you.
