The term BYOD is becoming more common among businesses and depending on your current business operations, you may or may not be familiar with this term. In this blog, we will break down the information you need to know and help you decide whether BYOD is something you should be considering.

 

What does BYOD Stand For?

The acronym BYOD stands for Bring Your Own Device. This is as simple as it sounds, and means that instead of using a company device, you use your own personal one. An example of this may be your own laptop which you keep in your home office.

What are the Advantages of BYOD?

Like many policies and technologies, there are a handful of advantages and disadvantages. Below, we have listed the advantages of adopting a BYOD policy.

Less Training Required – Due to the devices being owned personally by the user, the majority of your staff will know how to use their own machine and therefore avoid a learning curve and additional training. This saves time and also simplifies the process of hiring new members of staff as they won’t need to learn an unfamiliar system or computer.

Cost Savings – With members of staff using their own devices for work, the burden and costs associated with the purchase of new devices and setting them up is gone. This is particularly useful for small businesses who don’t want the outlay of a new computer.

Access to Preferred Applications – Certain roles will require access to particular applications which as a business may not be installed on all devices. Examples of these may include tools such as Photoshop. By allowing staff to use their own devices, there is a likelihood that they already have this installed saving the business money.

 

 

What are the Disadvantages of BYOD?  

Although there are a handful of benefits to BYOD, there are also disadvantages. These are listed below.

Cybersecurity Concerns – The main disadvantage behind BYOD is the security concerns which are raised from letting staff use their own devices. This is primarily due to the fact that applications on the user’s computer may pose risks if they aren’t updated or downloaded from a malicious source.

The risk of weak passwords also reduces the security of a business and if these are kept on a user’s personal device, it is difficult to monitor this and ensure that they are of sufficient strength.

Maintenance and Support Difficulty – Another issue regarding BYOD is that it creates new barriers and difficulties in terms of accessing support. With a mix of different software and hardware, more time and resources has to be put in to create a resolution.

The risk of outdated devices is also much higher with users having their own devices and this therefore increases the risk of slow computers and consequently, a lack of work being completed.

What Can be Done to Control BYOD?

To control BYOD within a business, companies should look at creating a BYOD policy. This sets out a set of rules which employees must follow if they want to use their own personal device at work in the office or to work from home on. Examples of the rules found in a BYOD policy may be as follows.

Minimum Technical and Hardware Requirements – A minimum for hardware and software requirements should be set ensuring that any computers used are going to be fast enough for the necessary operations. This should also apply to what operating system version the device is on to ensure there are minimal security risks.

Required Software – Some BYOD policies will include certain pieces of software which need to be installed for the device to be used. This may include an antivirus or similar software which ensures that any malicious or dangerous files aren’t installed. Although this comes pre installed on many devices such as windows defender, some businesses will require a stronger defence against threats.

 

How Three Cherries can Help

For many companies, BYOD isn’t viable due to the increases needed in cybersecurity in 2024 and with companies seeking accreditation such as Cyber Essentials. However, this does not mean it is unsuitable for all businesses, and some small companies may benefit from it.

If you need any more advice surrounding BYOD and enforcing policies to control device usage, contact Three Cherries today and one of our experts will guide you through the process.