Partner Article

BYOD? Why not ‘Choose Your Own Device’ instead?

“Bring your own device“ or “BYOD“ is the buzzword of the moment. But should it be?

Companies have jumped into BYOD programmes with very little thought as to whether their infrastructure can support it or whether it is even the right policy for them.

BYOD is not the only option!

BYOD productivity gains can only be reaped if network services can cope. Any organisation that intends to implement BYOD should ensure their network is “BYOD ready” first – being optimised for the devices that operate on them and boosting the Wi-Fi network considerably to support the surge in devices using it. If your wireless network and infrastructure is out of date you may as well not bother with BYOD.

The network aside however, in most instances, BYOD is not necessarily the best policy for an organisation that is looking to maintain performance and cut costs while delivering choice, productivity gains and convenience to their staff. BYOD may mean that the organisation has fewer devices to purchase and deploy directly, it exposes the organisation to brand new security risks and performance issues. Meeting these additional requirements often outweighs the added convenience and cost savings of BYOD.

So what is the alternative? Most have argued between BYOD vs. “get what you’re given” (otherwise known as “corporate provision”). However there is a third way. We propose that CYOD, or “Choose your own device”, whereby the organisation retains ownership of the contract but provides employees with a choice of handsets, may be a more suitable option for most. CYOD offers the best of both worlds, offering a balance between the variable performance and costly support of BYOD, and the more secure, but strict, model of corporate provision.

In fact, according to our last study on this, 63% of UK IT decision makers in medium to large organisations favour “Choose Your Own Device” over BYOD.

A CYOD programme is a legitimate third option. It allows a user to either choose their own device from a corporate-approved catalogue or even attach their own device to corporate resources according to certain rules. The crucial point and advantage is that management of all aspects of security, costs, policy and process remains under the control of the organisation. CYOD is better for financial management, control and network flexibility too. But most significantly, it is more secure - the primary concern for businesses.

BYOD may offer numerous advantages over corporate provision, but it is a major step too far for many organisations to take. UK organisations should certainly consider BYOD, but should also be aware that it is not the only option.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Azzurri Communications .