IT trends: Move over BYOD here comes CYOD

The last few years the big buzzword has been all about BYOD – or bring your own device – an IT revolution that was driven by employees wanting to use their own devices at work. Although this offered many benefits to the users that could spend more time focused on business and less time trying to figure out the technology. It also opened up an assortment of problems for IT departments regarding the issue of security. According to Osterman Research, 15% of employees believe they have “none to minimal” responsibility to protect corporate data stored on their personal devices, which raises big questions.

This resulted in business re-looking on how this policy can be adapted to suit all parties and started another option that is gaining popularity: Choose Your Own Device (CYOD)

What is Choose Your Own Device (CYOD)?

CYOD is a policy that allows users to choose from a number of approved devices. Usually, the company provides these devices and keeps them if the employee leaves or resigns.

Having a limited pool of pre-approved Operating Systems and devices can help IT departments mobilize more business processes and applications. For example, devices would be able to load up work applications based on the user's profile. It still gives employees the freedom to use a device they know and understand, but it narrows the options to a pre-approved list. Effectively it adds much-needed variety to a fleet of standard computers.

“With a comprehensive mobile protection strategy, you can have the best of both worlds,” says Fran Rosch, SVP Mobility at Symantec. “Get the benefits, prevent the risks.”

Benefits
Increase Security of Data: One of the major benefits of CYOD over BYOD is it enables enterprises to delete sensitive data and other corporate information in the device should it get lost, compromised or an employee leaves the company. By buying the devices themselves, organizations can also approve and install the correct security software.

IT Support:  Windows, iOS, Blackberry RIM, Android and the growing list of other operating systems posed a challenge for organizations that adopted the BYOD policy. Supporting only a list of approved mobile devices can be much more efficient because the helpdesk staff is only asked to support known device types.

Talent Management: If you’re looking to recruit tech-savvy employees, offering an expanded list of mobile devices will also make your company appear employee-friendly, more so than a corporate-owned, single device plan.

CYOD is beginning to win out over plain BYOD, and it’s easy to see why. The surge of BYOD in recent years saved companies big money on hardware but led to both expected and unforeseen issues. After a period of acclimation for companies and employees, the fact that CYOD is growing says everything about its effective blend of the old and new ways.

Regardless of your organization is adopting a BYOD or CYOD approach, you need skilled IT staff to manage it effectively.

Communicate Recruitment is an IT recruitment company with consultants that specialize in working with developers, architects, consultants in CRM and ERP through to BI and BA. Contact us today to assist with all your talent-finding needs in 2015.

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