“Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD): Pros and Cons 

July, 2013 - Labour/Employment Department

In the last few years, many multinationals are implementing in their organizations so-called “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policies. 


What is “BYOD”? It is a new trend in the management of technological infrastructure within companies where employees bring their own devices to the workplace, thereby reducing the number of devices that companies have to provide to employees, with the consequent reduction in costs. However, at other times BYOD arises as a response to employees’ wishes to use their own smartphones and personal devices out of personal preference. 


BYOD can encourage flexibility in the workplace, optimizing the work/life relationship, which considerably increases the employee’s productivity.


However, the implementation of BYOD programs presents companies with two major challenges. First, how to guarantee the security and privacy of the company’s information, since the use of employees’ personally owned laptops, tablets or smartphones to access the company’s systems involves a risk of confidential information leaking out and, secondly, defining, where applicable, the necessary employment policies to adequately manage teleworking and employees’ mobility.

 

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