Since the beginning of 2011 abbreviation BYOD (Bring your own device) became more common within the IT context. The term refers to the policy which allows employees to use their own devices (smart phones, tablets and laptops) at work to access company information and applications.
Over the past two years BYOD made considerable advances in the business world. To such an extent that at least 60% of employers are already using their own devices (even if in a limited capacity). Businesses can no longer prevent their employees from BYOD and there are various opinions on the pros and cons of BYOD within the company context.
Also here at Stellenbosch University, we realise that there’s a growing need for staff to buy their own, specialized equipment for work purposes. However, to succesfully implement BYOD, excellent planning and management is a necessity. Why do we need defined measures and a well formulated policy before we implement?
To explain this, we need to have a closer look at both the advantages and disadvantages of BYOD. Let’s start with the disadvantages –
1. In the past BYOD practices have led to data breaches within companies. If an employee uses his smartphone to gain access to the company’s network and subsequently loses the phone, another party can get hold of unsecured data on the phone.
A security breach could also occur when an employee leaves the service of the company and he/she doesn’t have to return the device. Company applications and data remain on the phone. According to international research only 20% of employees have signed a BYOD contract.
Companies allowing their employees to use their own devices typically implement a BYOD security policy which clearly explains the company’s position and governance policy to enable the IT department to better manage devices and ensure that network security isn’t under threat.
2. Company information is less safe on a private device than it would have been within a controlled company environment on a company controlled device. Cost of hardware for the company decreases, but administration and administration costs are much higher. Also, hardware is not entirely controlled by the IT department and more effort is therefore required.
BYOD can also be to the employee’s disadvantage. Due to security issues and risks, employees don’t have full control over their own devices since the company has to ensure that information is safe at all times.
On the other side BYOD can also work to the company and employee’s advantage.
1. A company utilising a BYOD policy, saves money on expensive devices the company would normally supply for their staff. Employees might handle their own devices with more care and at the same time companies will benefit faster from the advantage of newer technology.
2. Employees can choose for themselves which technology they prefer, rather than using the companies prescribed hardware. This freedom promotes productivity and company morale.
Whichever way you look at it, BYOD is here to stay, even within the SU context. Information Technology is currently formulating a policy which includes the usage of personal devices, Digital Rights Management and measures that will be applied. More information on this will follow in a later edition of the Bits & Bytes.
(SOURCE: www.wikipedia.org en www.webopedia.com)
Die afkorting BYOD (Bring your own device) het sedert begin 2011 in die IT-omgewing posgevat en omvat die beleid wat werknemers toelaat om hul eie mobiele toestelle (selfone, skootrekenaars en tablette) werk toe te bring en te gebruik om toegang te verkry tot maatskappy inligting en toepassings.
BYOD het oor die afgelope twee jaar aansienlike vordering gemaak in die besigheidwêreld – in so ‘n mate dat ten minste 60% van werknemers alreeds gebruik maak van hulle eie toestelle (ten minste in ‘n beperkte kapasiteit) Besighede kan nie werknemers verhoed om gebruik te maak van BYOD nie en daar is verskeie uiteenlopende opinies oor die voor- en nadele van BYOD binne die maatskappy-konteks.
Ook hier by die universiteit besef ons dat daar ‘n toenemende behoefte bestaan vir personeel om hul eie, gespesialiseerde toerusting aan te koop en vir werksdoeleindes te gebruik. Om BYOD egter suksesvol te implementeer is goeie beplanning en beheer ook ‘n noodsaaklikheid. Hoekom is gedefinieerde maatreёls en ‘n goed geformuleerde beleid nodig voor ons dit in werking kan stel?
Om dit te verduidelik, moet ons kyk na beide die voor- en nadele van BYOD. Kom ons begin by die nadele –
1. BYOD praktyke het in die verlede reeds gelei tot databreuke binne ‘n maatskappy. Indien ‘n werknemer sy slimfoon gebruik om toegang tot die maatskappy netwerk te verkry en die betrokke foon verloor, kan ander partye onsekure data op die telefoon in die hande kry.
‘n Sekuriteitsbreuk vind ook plaas indien ‘n werknemer die maatskappy verlaat en hy/sy nie die toestel terug hoef te gee nie. Maatskappytoeppassings en -data bly agter op die toestel. Volgens internasionale navorsing het slegs 20% van werknemers ‘n BYOD-kontrak onderteken en bestaan daar dus ‘n beduidende risiko.
Maatskappye wat werknemers toelaat om hul eie mobiele toestelle by die werk te gebruik implementeer ‘n BYOD sekuriteitsbeleid wat duidelik omskryf wat die maatskappy se posisie en bestuursbeleid sodat die IT-afdeling toestelle makliker kan bestuur en verseker dat netwerksekuriteit nie bedreig word nie.
2. Maatskappyinligting is minder veilig as wat dit sou wees binne die beheerde maatskappyomgewing op ‘n toestel gekontroleer deur die maatskappy. Kostes van hardeware word wel verlaag deur BYOD, maar administrasie en administrasiekostes is aansienlik meer, omdat hardeware nie ten volle deur die IT-afdeling beheer word nie.
BYOD kan tot nadeel van die werknemer wees. As gevolg van sekuriteitskwessies en die noodsaaklikheid dat ‘n maatskappy moet verseker dat inligting te alle tye veilig is, het werknemers nie volle beheer oor eie toestelle nie.
Aan die ander kant kan BYOD voordele inhou vir beide die maatskappy en werknemer. Die maatskappy wat ‘n BYOD-beleid implementeer, bespaar geld op duur toestelle wat die normaalweg vir werknemers aangekoop sou word. Werknemers sal hul eie toestelle met meer sorg en versigtigheid hanteer en terselfdertyd sal maatskappye vinniger baat vind by die voordeel van nuwe tegnologie.
Werknemers wie se maatskappy ‘n BYOD-beleid toepas, kan self besluit watter tegnologie hulle verkies, eerder as om die maatskappy toestelle te gebruik. Hierdie vryheid van keuse bevorder produktiwiteit en maatskappygees.
Hoe dit ookal sy, BYOD is onvermydellik, ook binne die US-omgewing. Informasietegnologie is tans besig met die formulering van ‘n amptelike beleid wat ook BYOD sal omvat, die bestuur van digitale regte en strenger maatreёls vir die gebruik van persoonlike toerusting sal omskryf. Meer inligting hieroor sal in ‘n volgende uitgawe van die Bits & Bytes bekendgemaak word.
(BRON: www.wikipedia.org en www.webopedia.com)
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Thanks to the University’s collaboration with SANREN and the implementation of the new Fortigate firewall, users on campus can now look forward to lower internet rates and faster, more stable internet. Both these projects were necessary if one takes into consideration that the university’s bandwidth usage doubled each year for the past 8 years. In spite of the increase in usage, rates were never increased.