BYOD seems like an easy way for enterprises to save money and keep users happy, but security issues can create problems that far outweigh the benefits.
Users want BYOD. They’re eager to access corporate files with the same device they use for Angry Birds, and some users are even ashamed to tote BlackBerry devices.
But there are plenty of perils that can befall a user’s shiny iPhone beyond dropping it in the toilet. A rise in smartphone theft means that, despite the enterprise’s and user’s best intentions, the trendy phone could still end up in the wrong hands, chock-full of sensitive corporate data.
An employee could quit or be terminated, with downloaded data still on the phone or tablet that, technically, the ex-employee owns. Or, the employee could trade in his or her old phone without wiping it, leaving sensitive data just waiting for whoever purchases the refurbished phone.
The first instinct for most companies is to treat BYOD devices like company-issued BlackBerrys: Wipe them remotely. That’s fine if the device isn’t used for anything personal, like cute kid pics and (legally) downloaded music, but the vast majority of employees support BYOD because it allows them to carry just one device for business and pleasure. If the phone ends up just being misplaced, regardless of the legal ramifications, and regardless of what the employee signed agreeing to remote wipes, that’s going to be one angry employee waving a shiny, bricked smartphone at IT.
Then there’s the possibility of data breaches. According to a recent survey by Decisive Analytics of over 400 CEOs and senior IT executives, almost half of all companies with BYOD had security breaches as a direct result of employee devices accessing the corporate network. Despite most of these companies (83 percent) requiring security software, they still experienced breaches. That’s worth noting, because the smartphones that employees choose, typically iOS and Android devices, are not as secure as BlackBerrys.
Companies also need to make sure that users aren’t downloading malware. Just this past summer, malware masquerading as Android anti-virus software caught some users flat-footed. Third-party app stores teem with malware that can expose companies to security breaches and other threats.
The Decisive Analytics survey also pointed to an increase of 41 percent in costs for some companies that introduce BYOD, mainly around tech support. It makes sense -– someone can’t access his email on his new iPhone, and he calls IT. It’s an easy enough fix, but it takes time that IT could better spend proactively managing company assets.
BYOD isn’t making life easier in the enterprise for IT managers. In response to a recent survey, almost half (48 percent) of IT managers want to standardize their mobile platforms with Windows Phone and Windows RT, Microsoft’s OS for smartphones and tablets, respectively.
IT managers believe that it will be easier for employees to use the Microsoft Office productivity suite on a Windows OS device -– but they may also be hoping to eliminate some of the BYOD security concerns with devices that can’t access as many apps, as Microsoft has a very small share of the mobile market.
However, Windows OS devices came in fourth, security-wise, in the Decisive Analytics survey. That may end up backfiring on IT managers who are looking for security and standardization. (Whether or not Windows devices really are less secure remains to be seen.)
It’s likely that thoughts of a company-wide standard for mobile devices is a pipedream concocted by IT managers who don’t want to worry about mobile device security, or who are tired of supporting multiple mobile platforms.
Is it too late to stop the BYOD wave, or can IT managers make a case for a single, employer-provided platform that leaves no question as to who really owns the device?
"my intention is actually to hand over the company-owned phone to someone who's trying to rob me"
@cparizo: Normally, the phones companies give out are insured so they don't really get to lose anything if you get mugged. Not a bad idea to hand over the company phone then :)
"There are trade-offs and compromises involved but at the end of the day, it's what the firm can live with and manage that will serve as the deciding factor."
@sotheco: I agree. There's a trade-off involved and one of the ways to minimize the impact, as you said, is by having effective BYOD policies. I think BYOD will gain popularity as time passes and as organizations and employees get comfortable with it.
I don't necessarily think BYOD is bad for all the conveniences that it promises to bring with proper implementation. Most of the points Christine enumerated are valid--there are a lot of risks to BYOD, especially if IT doesn't put out a policy that covers all the bases. But if they do and do it well, then the risks are minimized.
The employers and the employees both stand to benefit from this. For employers, increased productivity; for employees, increased convenience. There are trade-offs and compromises involved but at the end of the day, it's what the firm can live with and manage that will serve as the deciding factor.
@taimur_tz, my intention is actually to hand over the company-owned phone to someone who's trying to rob me. I mean, theoretically. I only have one phone right now, since I work for myself as a freelancer, and my company has a liberal BYOD policy. :)
"Yes, but you're theoretically using them only half as much, so the batteries should last longer. Charge one at the office and one at home."
@cparizo: That's certainly a benefit of carrying two phones but if that's what your intention was, you may want to carry just a spare battery rather than another phone. Makes things simpler.
"The question now is who really stands to better gain from BYOD? Is it the employee or the employer?"
@Paul: From what I see, it seems to be a fair deal where there are advantages for both and disadvantages for both as well. The model has been designed to portray that employees are benefiting more as they get more choice, but I think both are equally benefiting from it.
"I certainly don't want to get the trouble of thinking which ones of the smartphone should i use for each kind of information. I want all my information in just a single mobile device. "
@Paul: That's quite important in many cases. For instance, you want one calendar which can organize your work and personal commitments so you know what you have to do in the day. Certainly a hassle to look at two different calendars and decide.
Carrying two feature phones might not be so bad but carrying two smartphones is certainly a hassle because they're bigger in size.
@taimur_tz, I totally agree with you on this. Smartphones are not as small as mini-phones. Its pretty big and sometimes difficult to carry two of them at a time. I would like to converge all of them into one device.
why risk that shiny, new smartphone on the corporate death network?
@DukeW, true. Its not a good idea to risk new smartphone on corporate network but then I would miss out on new features which the new smarpthones have to offer.
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