Switchfast Blog: The Future of IT
The Downside to the "Bring Your Own Device" Model of IT Buying
Monday, November 07, 2011 by Michelle Hartley
In economic times such as these, small businesses must face the
inevitable decision as to what to do to keep business afloat. More
times than not, this decision results in cutting of costs,
reduction of payroll, and ultimately low employee morale that is
perceivable throughout all aspects of the company. Here enters the
"bring your own device" model to save the day.
To lessen the burden of cutbacks, many businesses are adopting
this debatable model in which employees are given permission to use
personal devices in corporate environments. The use of personal
tablets, smartphones, and notebooks in the business world appears
to be clever in alleviating costs. Combined with upfront technical
savings, improved morale and higher productivity, BYOD allows
businesses to lower expenses while maintaining a level of
reassurance. At least that's what we are expected to believe.
The four biggest downsides to BYOD that businesses must
contemplate include risk of security breaches, hardware and data
ownership, continued overhead costs, and lack of scalability.
Security
Data security is crucial to protect business assets. Despite the
abundant amount of providers, many consumers continually choose to
opt out of purchasing antivirus software, thus creating a security
gap. Hackers can easily access your company's data through private
devices and may upload viruses that can crash your systems. Aside
from viruses and malware, mobile devices such as smartphones are
also at a higher risk of theft or loss.
Ownership
Restrictions and guidelines obviously vary business to business,
but overall the issue of ownership can extend further than just
whom the hardware belongs to. Who should be responsible for the
costs of the devices along with vital business applications needed?
What happens when an employee is terminated? Who owns the data
stored on the device? There are hundreds of questions that require
the enforcement of strict policies in order to make BYOD beneficial
for both employer and employee.
Continued Overhead Costs
Despite BYOD offering upfront savings, there is little evidence
that supports significant long-term savings. In fact, the opposite
is more than likely especially with issues concerning ongoing
management of aging systems. The continued cost of maintaining an
internal network can be pricy, and the costs to keep personal
devices up-to-date and in working condition only increases this
fee.
Small Business Scalability
Under BYOD, it is hard to predict future expenses. As a company
grows, so does the technology needed. In these situations, small
businesses must weigh their needs with available budget. Unlike
larger corporations, small businesses do not have the luxury to
overspend and company size often fluctuates at a higher rate. If a
small business purchases a large amount of devices for its
employees and is forced to cut payroll, the money wasted on the
additional technology can be overwhelming.
So What's the Solution?
Here enters managed IT services. Rather than devoting valuable
time towards establishing restrictions and guidelines, or fretting
upon excess costs, consider letting a managed service provider do
the work for you. Most MSPs are partnered with several vendors and
have a variety of outlets at their disposal. Many are composed of
IT professionals with an assortment of experience. Most
importantly, MSPs prevent issues before they happen through
proactive tactics, allowing your business to safely plan for the
future.
If your company is struggling with finding appropriate
technology solutions to keep your business on top, consider looking
into managed services. Switchfast can find the right solution at a
cost small business can afford, leaving you with nothing but peace
in mind. Feel free to contact us at
773.241.3007.
Until next time -
Brandon Czajka
Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Support &
Consulting
DC IT Support &
Consulting
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