After the article we discussed earlier regarding the introduction of BYOD, this time we will discuss how BYOD can increase productivity at work. BYOD or Bring Your Own Device in a company is considered to be growing in line with the increase in “mobile and cloud computing” technology in Indonesia. The BYOD policy is closely related to productivity in the current digital transformation era.
The BYOD policy is expanding because apart from maximizing employee productivity with work devices, it is also considered more comfortable because it is more efficient to carry and use personal gadgets anywhere and anytime to work. This is fueled by the tendency of people to stay connected with one another. Through personal devices or gadgets such as laptops, notebooks, tablets, or even smartphones, various activities will be facilitated, such as sending and receiving information and even accessing and running company applications.
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The BYOD culture creates a new way of working that is more flexible in terms of mobility and not limited by space. With BYOD, it is hoped that it can foster a sense of comfort among employees so that it can become a trigger in creating new innovations for the company. The more popular the BYOD culture is, the greater the utilization of the cloud model and the greater the benefits of the cloud itself.
Furthermore, there are two things that must be observed in BYOD, namely, the protection of personal data because it involves the handling of personal data from users that must be in accordance with applicable rules related to personal data. Then the second concerns the continuity of synchronized application services from BYOD devices with application centers on cloud servers. BYOD has many benefits in its implementation. However, on the other hand there are some consequences and even threats from the BYOD trend. So how do companies deal with this BYOD trend? Should all companies adopt BYOD in the workplace?
Benefits of Implementing BYOD
Most companies that implement BYOD can improve employee productivity and employee job satisfaction and retention through a more effective and efficient work-life balance. Employees can work anytime and anywhere quickly without any technical problems, such as being stuck in traffic jams. In addition, companies that implement BYOD policies also reduce hardware and software expenses because employees have brought their personal gadgets for work purposes. With that, they feel comfortable because they can work using the gadget they like.
Consequences of Implementing BYOD
This BYOD trend places additional responsibilities on companies, especially IT departments who have to maintain devices and ensure that the practice does not create cybercrime vulnerabilities. The company is also implementing cybersecurity measures to reduce the risk of data breaches, especially due to lost or stolen personal devices.
There is an increase in the use of applications, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, Apple iCloud or the use of e-mail as a medium for spreading data between employees. This is a concern, that is, not all employees are aware that the use of these applications increases the possibility of leakage of company information assets. The reason is, these applications are third parties that are completely outside the control of the IT department. Lastly the lack of firewalls or anti-virus software implemented on personal devices.
The BYOD Trend during the Pandemic
The BYOD trend is a company policy that allows employees to bring and use their personal devices at work, such as laptops, tablets or smartphones to access company data and systems. This BYOD trend is experiencing growth driven by the increasing demand for smartphones or smart laptops as well as employees’ desire to perform work-related tasks, such as sending emails when they are not in the office environment.
During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, this event encouraged a culture of WFH or work from home. Even today, in some cases, companies require employees to access work-related systems or applications through personal gadgets, regardless of whether or not there is a BYOD policy in their company.
This means that there are some employees who use their personal devices to access company networks and applications even though these activities are prohibited. In other words, companies that choose to ignore policies are also ignoring security risks and possible use of personal devices. Companies have two options: implement BYOD by enforcing rules and security measures to make the practice safer or ban BYOD completely and then find ways to enforce the rules.
The Importance of BYOD To Increase Work Productivity
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The BYOD trend empowers employees to work and collaborate however they want, with the freedom to use any device they like. Enterprises leveraging application virtualization will benefit from increased security and management options. For example, employers can host proprietary applications in a cloud, and employees can access them on their personal devices.
Companies may need to implement a BYOD policy, even if they provide employees with a second device. It is undeniable that employees will use their personal devices to access company data, even though this is against existing policies. Therefore, it is better to have and implement security options to reduce the risks that will occur.
Tips on Securing Work Devices
In securing personal data and company data, it is necessary to take steps to secure your gadget, such as a laptop, notebook, tablet or smartphone.
Laptops are usually the main tool at work, employees must use encryption mechanisms or store data so that they remain locked even if the laptop is lost.
Employees must separate personal data and company data, for example by differentiating folders between the two. Register the device used with the company’s remote location that can track the device, if the device is lost.
Routinely update your device with the latest OS or patch, and use an antivirus.
Tablets or smartphones that are used to access company data must activate security, for example activating a screen lock because it is important to protect the basic devices that employees use.
Avoid downloading illegal or banned apps due to the potential for malware.
It is mandatory to always check application access rights to avoid malicious applications that retrieve data such as accessing contacts and calls.
The conclusion is that the BYOD or Bring Your Own Device trend is a growing trend among employers who want to add flexibility and ease of access to the workplace. This involves allowing employees to work from their preferred gadget. They can also use their smartphone or tablet to access resources, such as company email, files, or inventory levels, among other information.
But in this BYOD culture there are some consequences or drawbacks, one of which is the problem of data security. Companies must place more responsibility, especially the IT department who must maintain the device and ensure that the BYOD culture does not give rise to cybercrime vulnerabilities.
In this case, Helios is here to offer the Helios Mobility Suite for your data security solutions and fulfill your needs in increasing work productivity with BYOD. For more information about Helios please visit us at: https://www.helios.id/ or contact us via info@helios.id.