Bring your own device

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Bring your own device (BYOD) (also called bring your own technology (BYOT), bring your own phone (BYOP), and bring your own PC (BYOPC)) means the policy of permitting employees to bring personally owned mobile devices (laptops, tablets, and smart phones) to their workplace, and use those devices to access privileged company information and applications.[1] The term is also used to describe the same practice applied to students using personally owned devices in education settings.[2]

BYOD is making significant inroads in the business world, with about 75% of employees in high growth markets such as Brazil and Russia and 44% in developed markets already using their own technology at work.[3] In most cases, businesses simply can't block the trend. Some believe that BYOD may help employees be more productive.[4] Others say it increases employee morale and convenience by using their own devices and makes the company look like a flexible and attractive employer.[5]

Contents

History [edit]

BYOD first entered in 2009, courtesy of Intel when it recognized an increasing tendency among its employees to bring their own devices to work and connect them to the corporate network.[6] However, it took until early 2011 before the term achieved any real prominence when IT services provider Unisys and software vendors VMware and Citrix Systems started to share their perceptions of this emergent trend.

In 2012, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission adopted a BYOD policy, but many employees continued to use their government-issued BlackBerrys because of concerns about billing, and the lack of alternative devices.[7]

Issues [edit]

BYOD security relates strongly to the End node problem, wherein a device is used to access both sensitive and risky networks/services.

BYOD has resulted in data breaches.[8] For example, if an employee uses a smartphone to access the company network and then loses that phone, untrusted parties could retrieve any unsecured data on the phone.[9]

Another type of security breach occurs when an employee leaves the company, they do not have to give back the device, so company applications and other data may still be present on their device.[10]

A key issue of BYOD which is often overlooked is BYOD's phone number problem, which raises the question of the ownership of the phone number. The issue becomes apparent when employees in sales or other customer-facing roles leave the company and take their phone number with them. Customers calling the number will then potentially be calling competitors which can lead to loss of business for BYOD enterprises. [11]

International research reveals that only 20% of employees have signed a BYOD policy.[12]

If sensitive, classified, or criminal data lands on a US government employee's device, the device is subject to confiscation.[13]

Prevalence [edit]

The Middle East has one of the highest adoption rates (about 80%) of the practice worldwide in 2012.[14]

According to research by Logicalis, high-growth markets (including Brazil, Russia, India, UAE, and Malaysia) demonstrate a much higher propensity to use their own device at work. Almost 75% of users in these countries did so, compared to 44% in the more mature developed markets.[15]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ BYOD on pcworld.com
  2. ^ Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) on maleehome.com
  3. ^ "BYOD – Research findings". Logicalis. Retrieved 12 February 2013. 
  4. ^ 10 myths of BYOD in the enterprise. TechRepublic. http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-myths-of-byod-in-the-enterprise/3049
  5. ^ Happiness Is ... Bringing Your Own Computer Devices to Work. RetailWire. http://www.retailwire.com/discussion/16188/happiness-is-bringing-your-own-computer-devices-to-work
  6. ^ "Mobile: Learn from Intel's CISO on Securing Employee-Owned Devices". Gov Info Security. Retrieved 10 January 2013. 
  7. ^ "BlackBerry Strategizes For More U.S. Government Clients."
  8. ^ [1]
  9. ^ 4 Steps to Securing Mobile Devices and Apps in the Workplace - eSecurityPlanet.com
  10. ^ Wiech, Dean. "The Benefits And Risks Of BYOD". Manufacturing Business Technology. Retrieved 28 January 2013. 
  11. ^ Kaneshige, Tom. "BYOD's Phone Number Problem". 
  12. ^ "BYOD Policy". Logicalis. Retrieved 12 February 2013. 
  13. ^ Jarrett, Marshall. "Searching and Seizing Computers and Obtaining Electronic Evidence in Criminal Investigations". Office of Legal Education. Retrieved 15 May 2013. 
  14. ^ El Ajou, Nadeen (24 September 2012). "Bring Your Own Device trend is ICT industry's hottest talking point at GITEX Technology Week". AMEinfo.com. Retrieved 26 September 2012. 
  15. ^ "BYOD research findings". Logicalis. Retrieved 12 February 2013. 

External links [edit]

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