From: Mitesh Patel, Managing director, Fifosys
Sir – The security of your corporate data is not at risk by implementing a BYOD policy.
Many organisations are wary of implementing a BYOD policy as it is perceived that their corporate data will be at greater risk, but this is not the case. An effective BYOD strategy allows companies to centralise their corporate environment and manage the business through a single glass pane, actually improving control of sensitive business data.
With the implementation of a published desktop process, IT upgrades are far easier throughout the company. When any upgrades are needed, they can be carried out as soon as a user logs on to their device within the shared network, reducing disparity between devices and increasing employee productivity.
An effective BYOD scheme is increasingly important in the housing sector due to the growing number of individuals needing to access data and work from multiple locations throughout the day. By implementing a BYOD strategy, housing providers can ensure that their employees have all the resources they need to work from any location at any time in a secure and efficient way.
Implementing a BYOD policy will not only give employees the ability to work anywhere at any time; it will also provide the freedom to choose which device works best for each individual, boosting morale in the long run. Some companies even run very effective incentives in which they will offer employees money or vouchers towards a device of their choice.
The most common question asked when it comes to BYOD policies is that of security. However, before this is considered in the BYOD process, businesses must ask themselves how secure they feel their data actually is currently. If desktops are in place instead of roaming devices, companies may think that measures are in place to stop data leaving the building, but is this true?
For example, if an employee wants to add an attachment to a personal email account and send it out of the building, can they? The answer is probably ‘yes’. So the risks are already there in any business. A BYOD policy may not put your data at any greater risk at all, but instead it could increase productivity, save time and allow employees to make the most of their days in and out of the office.
