Is your company currently allowing a Bring Your Own Device or BYOD policy for your employees, or considering starting one? While this strategy is a great way to promote productivity and save money for your business, you have to make sure you know the lay of the land before you start allowing a BYOD program at your office. Here are some helpful tips to ensure a BYOD policy is a success and not a regret:
Decide On Your Devices
Before you open up a BYOD policy, make sure you make it clear to your employees which devices are and are not allowed. Are you still going to be supplying certain devices? Are you allowing only iPhones or only Android devices? Are laptops and tablets allowed? Be sure to define a clear service policy for the devices allowed under your BYOD policy. Make sure you clarify what is allowed under your BYOD policy, or you may find yourself flooded with more than you expected.
Don’t Skimp on Security
When it comes to personal devices, don’t let employees skip over security. If they want to be able to bring and use their own devices at work, they are going to be required to have complex passwords and lock screens on their devices. A simple swipe of the screen isn’t acceptable when a device contains crucial company and client information. And be sure to have a strict policy for an employee exit. You want to ensure your company and client information isn’t leaving with your employee.
Not All Apps are Allowed
With the threat of hackers, viruses and productivity reducers in today’s age, you can’t allow all apps on devices. These apps could put your company documents, files and other crucial information at risk. Not to mention your employee productivity could plummet in a hurry thanks to constant Facebook and Twitter updates. Limiting and monitoring the downloading of these apps can be difficult. So take the time to be sure which employees can be trusted for a BYOD policy.