Four letters are having a big impact on company's internal technology strategy. B-Y-O-D. Known as bring-your-own-device, BYOD is infusing the business infrastructure with a series of new devices that need to be incorporated into daily operations in an effective and secure manner. According to Forrester research, by the end of 2013, 129 million people will have procured a smartphone for work-related reasons.
A recent article from USA Today, features some tips that companies need to follow for a successful BYOD strategy. These include things like planning ahead, establishing proper administrative guidelines to prevent confusion, properly training employees and making sure compliance is always part of the decision-making process. It added that everything starts with a proper strategy from the beginning.
"Start mobile initiatives with a fully fleshed-out out plan; your strategy should take a holistic view of security with an overarching security framework," the article reads. "Inventory the types of data your mobile workforce accesses on phones and tablets, and treat smart phone and device security just like you would internal systems on the network."
While having all of these policies can make managing a BYOD practice much simpler for a business of any size, decision-makers that are unfamiliar with the technology will still be looking for help. It's like trying to coach a baseball team when you don't understand the game. That is where an IT consulting firm that specializes in processes like an iPad deployment can become a valuable resource and help companies manage the treacherous landscape of an IT implementation.
