RIP BYOD – It Was a Good Try

BYOD programs tend to ebb and flow over time. Some programs have seen great success when literally leaving employees to their own devices, and many have transitioned back to corporate-liable managed accounts. Around 2005, there was a big push to switch to an employee-liable, BYOD program with the expectation that it would be much easier to manage and take pressure off of the IT department. However, once the downfalls were identified, many mobility programs shifted back to being corporate-liable.

Did you know that fifty-eight percent of organizations do not have a BYOD policy? Since there are frequently no concrete policies in place, carriers benefit from BYOD programs because of the cost and confusion that is involved. There are no guidelines on how to bring a device into an organization, how to charge international costs, or an education plan for end users on how to use a BYOD plan correctly. To set the end user up for success, the policy, rate plan, stipend, etc. has to be over-communicated to eliminate as much confusion as possible. That being said, seventy percent of organizations have no education initiative for BYOD, making it hard for the program to be set up for success from the start.

Another major factor that contributes to the downfall of BYOD programs is the lack of security. When we have met with clients in the past, we have inquired about the security system they are using just to discover that there is no security system in place. They have given in to the employee requests and demands of connecting, but haven’t deployed security on devices to protect corporate information in case they get lost or stolen and to prevent people from hacking in from Wi-Fi networks.

To learn about the long term effects of BYOD, stipends, and how they are affecting corporate wireless programs today, watch our webinar! We also provide insight on how companies are dealing with security and support for second and third devices that employees want to connect. If you want to discuss how to best set up a corporate wireless policy for your enterprise, download our white paper and contact us to let us help.