An estimated 40 percent of employers currently support bring-your-own-device programs, according to recent survey data from Crowd Research Partners. As mobile workflows become more prevalent within the business world, this figure is sure to rise as more firms join the BYOD bandwagon in search of the efficiency and productivity gains the methodology can yield. However, a surprisingly large number of these would-be adopters are bound to fail, according to Gartner. Back in 2014, the research firm predicted that 20 percent of the BYOD plans in place would falter within two years. Why?
Organizations fail to implement sustainable BYOD strategies for numerous reasons. However, many of these collapses are often tied to one or more of the following common issues:
Too many restrictions
Companies normally exercise caution when setting off on the BYOD adoption journey. Considering the recent proliferation of cybercrime, this hesitation seems appropriate. However, some take it too far, developing overly strict BYOD programs with extensive endpoint security controls that compromise user privacy. In many cases, employees resist and the entire strategy crashes and burns, according to Gartner.
Prospective adopters can avoid this potential problem from the outset by implementing mobility management solutions that give administrators the power to create virtual partitions between personal and professional device data, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. Additionally, information technology teams should notify employees prior to performing device maintenance activities, including the removal of company data as a result of resignation or termination.
"While businesses should certainly avoid excessively prohibitive BYOD policies, they must also establish baseline expectations."
Lack of OS regulation
While businesses should certainly avoid excessively prohibitive BYOD policies, they must also establish baseline expectations. Why? Programs with lax technological and usage guidelines tend to fall apart, especially those without operating system regulations, Information Age reported. In one scenario, employees use devices that information technology staff simply cannot support. In another, users fail to update their device software, allowing hackers to take advantage of unpatched vulnerabilities.
With the myriad number of proprietary devices on the market, enterprises must offer guidance on which ones work with existing information technology systems. On top of that, IT personnel should devise update strategies so that employees are using the latest versions. These variables are essential to success.
Compliance problems
Many organizations are beholden to IT compliance standards. Health care providers must comport with data usage requirements established in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, while retailers are required to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards. Unfortunately, some BYOD adopters forget these responsibilities and roll out strategies that collapse under the weight of fines, CIO reported.
Enterprises would be wise to take these standards into consideration when evaluating BYOD technology, as one compliance-related mishap can result in failure.
Is your organization interested in unleashing a successful BYOD program? You might consider embarking on an IT modernization journey before moving forward. The Inventu Flynet Viewer eases this process, meeting the needs of businesses and employees in a way that feels both familiar and simple. Connect with us today to learn more about this solution and the other products included in our catalog.