When successfully implemented, a BYOD policy can be a great way to increase flexibility for your workforce without the unnecessarily large start-up costs.
A BYOD policy can allow you to fully embrace technological change and the increase of smartphones in the workplace.
What is BYOD?
BYOD simply stands for Bring Your Own Device. In other words, it is a policy which is put in place for staff who wish to use their personal devices at work. Instead of fighting the use of smartphones and personal laptops in the workplace, you can implement a BYOD policy.
A BYOD policy sets out rules and regulations for using your personal device at work. By embracing this, it means you can also put steps in place to ensure user safety and security on their devices. Here are some ways that you can implement a safe and secure BYOD policy for your workforce.
Choose What Devices Are Acceptable Under BYOD Policy
First of all, you need to set out rules of what devices are acceptable in the workplace. You might decide that it is okay for your workforce to use their personal smartphones, laptops, smart watches etc., but maybe there is a certain brand which cannot be monitored for safety.
Decide What is Acceptable Usage
It can be helpful to make conditions of how the devices should be used so that no one takes advantage. Draft a list of acceptable and unacceptable uses of their devices.
For example, smartphones can be used for business calls, video meetings, as a calculator, but not for personal calls or social media when on company time.
Make Sure Everything is Separated
To use your own device at work, try to separate your personal data from your company data. There are many apps out there which can be downloaded onto a personal device, from which company data can be accessed.
Security & Safety Take Priority
As these are your employees’ personal devices, you must take every precaution to ensure the safety and security of their devices. Usually, access to networks work on the basis of trust – you trust your network to only access things that are safe, and your network assumes that you have permission to access it.
Zero trust eradicates the need for this trust. In order to have access to the network, and therefore company data and files, a user must undergo authentication. Once they have access to the network, safety and security is nigh-on guaranteed.
As this year has seen many of us working from home and working on our personal devices, this can be a very simple way to move forward into 2021 with a blended and flexible approach to the workplace.
A BYOD policy can save the company money on buying new infrastructure or hardware, as well as allowing employees to work from home when required.
Final Words
Before implementing a BYOD policy, make sure it is the right move for your business – it might not work for everyone and that is okay. And if it is, make the safety and security of your employees, their personal data and company data your upmost priority.
Read Also:
- How You Can Harness Software To Reach Your Business’ KPIs
- 15 Essential Must-Have Workplace Policies
- Why Your Employees Need Time Tracking App?
Author: Edwin Owusu Peprah
