PROS AND CONS OF BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE


A quick search of Bring Your Own Device on the web turns up a mixed bag of reactions from IT professionals and phone system analysts everywhere. Like anything else, BYOD can be great with the right execution, or it can be a headache if your team is not properly trained and prepared. Here are a few pros and cons of this phone technology for business that will help you decide if it's right for you.

PRO: COST

The cost of implementing a Bring Your Own Device system is extremely low in comparison to the cost of purchasing a full set of phones for your business. Since the user is paying for their device and their service, you could be saving up to $75/month per user line. That is a huge recurring cost that you won't have to worry about. Interestingly, while some companies do provide a stipend toward the cost of employee's phone bills, many employees are happy to pay it all on their own. Plus, your employees probably take advantage of free upgrades on their devices whenever they can, meaning that your company is gaining access to better phone technology for business on an ongoing basis—at no additional cost to you.

CON: SECURITY

Naturally, without claiming ownership of the devices, it is much harder to regulate how and when they are used. Some companies address this by beefing up their internal security and by directing their employees to company-approved security applications for their phones. Making these minimum security requirements helps get everybody on board.

PRO: HAPPY EMPLOYEES

You may have noticed that whenever it came time to upgrade devices, you could never please everybody. You likely have one group of people who is happy with the old, simpler handsets, and another group who is chomping at the bit for something bigger and better. With BYOD, your employees can choose phone technology for business that fits their aptitude and personal requirements.

CON: DATA RETRIEVAL

Certain federal regulations concerning consumer data can affect your ability to roll out BYOD. While you can generally say that the data is safe on company-owned devices, there is a lot of grey area when employees are carrying it around with them outside of work. In addition, if an employee is ever terminated, there is reason to be concerned about the safety of information that was left on their device. Your IT team needs to be prepared to retrieve information and help users clear data from their phones when necessary.

PRO: MORE UPTIME

For so long, companies have depended on desktop phones to stay connected with customers. The downfall came when your employees stepped away from their desks for lunch, breaks, or meetings. Now it is possible to keep your phones accessible throughout the day without tying people to their desks. Allowing employees to use traditional devices and a mobile BYOD helps increase connectedness and productivity.

CON: USER CREATED ERRORS

If some of your employees are not quite up to speed on the latest technology, you may find that your IT team is spending more time than usual trying to troubleshoot individual errors caused by the user. If this becomes too burdensome, you may find it easier to allow BYOD only for employees who already have advanced knowledge of phone technology for business.

Under the right conditions, BYOD can greatly improve your company communications and allow all of your employees to feel like they have control over their work environment. This system saves you money and opens up a wider range of technological advancements for your use. However, companies who regularly deal with confidential information should take some serious time looking into adequate security measures and training to ensure safety.

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