We've all been there: You start at a new company and the first thing you're taught is how to use the devices at work. Employers often even provide laptops or tablets that employees can use and take home with them.

‍

But what happens when you turn the tables? That is exactly what BYOD — Bring Your Own Device is aimed at. Here, employees bring their own technical work materials to work and use them as work material. In this article, you will learn more about whether BYOD - Bring Your Own Device is worthwhile for your company, what advantages and disadvantages the concept offers you and what challenges lie ahead of you on the way to a successful implementation of BYOD.

‍

BYOD meaning

BYOD is an acronym and stands for “bring your own device”. This allows employees to bring their own devices to work as work materials. However, if this concept is to be integrated into your company, there are a few things to consider. From data protection to a company agreement, there are a few hurdles that you can stumble across. However, should you consider the concept useful for your company, the Bring Your Own Device concepts and guidelines must be clearly formulated to keep any risks in check.

‍

Bring Your Own Device: Advantages and Disadvantages

BYOD harbours many benefits for your company. Especially in freshly implemented hybrid teams, BYOD can improve acceptance and accelerate the introduction of the concept of hybrid working. Where there is light, however, there is always shadow, as they say. For this reason, we have prepared a brief overview of the advantages and disadvantages of the BYOD concept, which will make it easier for you to decide whether you want to introduce Bring Your Own Device into your company.

Benefits

‍

• No time is wasted in getting used to a new operating system when you bring your own mobile device to work
• Cost savings for your business
• More mobility and flexibility for employees
• Productivity increases when you bring your own device
• Faster operating system update
• The Sense of Self-Determination Increases as Employees Have More Control Over Their Own Work When They Bring Their Own Devices
• Companies often contribute to the costs of mobile devices, which has a positive effect on the financial situation of employees

Drawbacks

‍

• Insufficient security of internal company data
• Personal and internal company data is accessed and stored on a private device, which does not comply with the GDPR
• It is becoming harder to separate professional from private life, leading to stress

Create a Bring Your Own Device concept

If you decide to introduce BYOD in your company, you need a concept. The concept covers some important content topics that you need in order to implement Bring Your Own Device smoothly.

‍

1. Inform your employees comprehensively about their rights, obligations, and guidelines for security in the context of BYOD.
2. Make sure operating systems and applications are regularly updated to fix security gaps and optimize performance.
3. Define clear rules as to which applications can be used in the company to avoid breaches of license rights and ensure software compliance.
4. Use Mobile Device Management (MDM) or Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) to manage the private devices used in the company to make security and management easier.
5. Make your employees aware of the importance of IT security and regularly train them on the latest threats and security measures.

Bring Your Own Device Policy

The introduction of Bring Your Own Device must be carefully considered, especially with regard to the use of work software. Microsoft Office, for example, is often not licensed for commercial use on private laptops. Backing up data on private devices is also a challenge.

‍

It is therefore advisable to develop a company-specific Bring Your Own Device operating agreement. It should be carefully formulated to communicate the changes clearly and to increase data security. External experts can also help to create and implement an appropriate guideline.

‍

1. Set guidelines for acceptable applications: Define which websites, software, and network connections are allowed.

2. Implement security measures: Determine exactly which cybersecurity measures are necessary on devices to protect them from attacks.

3. Set up remote management: Allow remote admins to perform software updates and delete data in case of loss or theft.

4. Introduce multi-factor authentication: Use MFA to secure access to corporate networks and data even if the device is lost.

5. VPN: Remote access to data only via a virtual private network (VPN).

6. Allowed Applications: Email, Calendar Events, News Apps, and Business Contacts.

7. Prohibition of transmitting and storing illegal content: Prevent malware installation and theft of sensitive information.

‍

In addition, basic security practices such as regular operating system updates and the use of virus scanners should be implemented to ensure data integrity and compliance with legal requirements.

Bring Your Own Device Data Protection

BYOD poses risks to the privacy and security of corporate IT, as data can be stored and processed on private devices that are difficult to control. These devices are used in foreign networks and for private applications, which is why users must comply with security guidelines, e.g. not to store company data on external storage media. Specialized software can also be installed to enforce security policies, run applications in encrypted environments, and lock down external interfaces. This in turn can restrict private use. However, corporate data must be strictly separated from private data, and the GDPR must be complied with.

BYOD and Flexopus — Make it easier to adopt BYOD with Flexopus

BYOD and desk sharing often go hand in hand. However, as already explained, the conditions for a successful implementation of BYOD are often subject to strict security requirements. Flexopus provides exactly what employers need in order to be able to offer BYOD under the highest possible security requirements. Flexopus is subject to the GDPR in all parts and is also ISO27001 certified. Under the label “made & hosted in Germany,” Flexopus is the ideal solution not only to introduce employees to the principle of desk sharing, but also to enable the smooth booking of mobile offices, workstations and meeting rooms.

Flexopus also plans to be rolling out a feature soon that offers users the opportunity to rent their own lockers. This means that personal items such as mouse, keyboard, etc. can stay safely in the office by booking a locker, which limits the vulnerability of the technology to a minimum.

‍

Colleagues who are only in the office on certain days or who follow the principle of alternating telework can easily coordinate who will be where and when with the help of Bring Your Own Device and Flexopus.

Summary

Bring Your Own Device can have many benefits, especially financially, but should be treated with caution when it comes to security concerns. In particular, companies that work with highly sensitive data or belong to critical infrastructure should refrain from introducing BYOD for the reasons mentioned above.

‍

Companies that decide to implement the Bring Your Own Device concept must clearly communicate to their employees how to do it operationally. In particular, the points: Bring Your Own Device Company Agreement, concept and guideline are very important.

When everyone complies with Data Protection Requirements and you've made sure that your company is safe and secure with software like Flexopus, nothing stands in the way of successful integrating BYOD.