Did you know that, according to 2013 Com Score research, 145 million Americans own smartphones, and the United Nation reveals 44% of the world’s computing is being overtaken by tablets and mobile phones? Employers are hardly blind to this research. A staggering number, in fact, are adopting bring your own device (BYOD) systems, or encouraging, and sometimes even requiring, employees to use personal smartphones and tablets for business use. Why are employers so eager to do this, and what are the risks associated with BYOD models?
Why is BYOD So Popular?
The Consumer Intelligence Research Partners surveyed 1,000 mobile device owners, and as many as one in five said that planned to use new iPads for work. Moreover, half of all companies using BYOD systems ask employees to provide for all technology costs. What is most alarming, however, is that employees are going right along with it, and most are even welcoming the change. Why is BYOD so popular with employers and employees alike?
- Employee satisfaction. Being able to work on their own devices makes people happy. In fact, according to Evolving Workforce Research, 60% of employees insist they would enjoy jobs more with the freedom to work on their own devices.
- Increased Productivity. Cisco research reveals that employees work at least 37 minutes longer per week using BYOD models.
- Lower Costs. With the right mobile device management and precautions in place, BYOD systems have the potential to save companies a good deal of money. In a CIO Insight study, 47% of employers admitted that they enacted the systems to cut costs.
BYOD systems offer a number of different benefits. Employers should take care, however, to make sure that these benefits do not come at an incredible cost. Without the right protective and management protocols in place, companies put data and business systems at a great risk. What can employers do to stay one step ahead of iPhone security and management?
- Access Risk Levels. One of the most important factors in mobile device management is level of risk. Blackberries, for example, have complex encryption systems, and keeping them safe is relatively simple.
- Consider Comprehensive Models. Cut costs by using the same systems for hardware and iPhone management. Desktop Management Interface (DMI), for example, protects and monitors all hardware and software used in BYOD businesses.
- Double-Up. The Advanced Encryption Standard algorithm (AES) came to light in 1998, and it proved so successful for data encryption, it was adopted by a standard in 2001.
Keep company data safe, and employees happy and productive. Adopt BYOD confidently by using mobile device management systems. Visit here for more information: www.maas360.com