Let’s get personal (devices)

Greetings Reader,

In a distant city not too long ago, a client contacted the Support Ship with a not-so-common question: “Should I let my staff use personal devices for work-related activities?”.

There’s no one-size-fits-all response to this question. So if you’re wondering the same thing (and want to know if it’s an option for your business) take a seat and let me explain.

“Come on then, Capt. Let’s hear it…”

Whether you should allow employees to use personal devices largely depends on the nature of your business. If you deal with vast volumes of data or need to protect sensitive systems, it’s probably not the smartest move – especially if said personal device has outdated security software.

Just picture it. An employee downloads a dodgy file on their personal device connected to your company’s network. Before you know it, a virus is playing havoc with your tech causing confusion, disruption and an instant halt to production. Greeeeat!

But to add some light to the sinister picture I just painted for you, there are some benefits to personal devices in the workplace. You enable flexible working options, avoid the costs of new equipment, and allow employees to work on devices they’re more familiar with.

The path you choose is up to you (obvs). But if you do decide to allow personal devices in the workplace, make sure you have a watertight Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy. It could save you from a loada fuss later down the line.

“Will do, Capt. Anything else?”

If you’d like to learn more about personal devices in the workplace or want to chat about new hardware options for your business, contact our crew on 01903 259923.

Until the next time. ??