Understanding the BYOD landscape has been saved
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Understanding the BYOD landscape
By invitation only
The rising use of personal technologies for work-related activities has coined the phrase Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD). It is a trend that has potential to bring substantial benefits to enterprises, but can equally present considerable risks and implementation challenges.
This report, commissioned by IBM Software, comprises an effort to formulate an evidence-based commentary on the state of BYOD in the United Kingdom. It attempts to cut through confusion and offer pragmatic advice incorporating a broad range of management perspectives - from IT to risk management, tax and talent.
Key findings
- Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) is not a single idea or way of working. Rather it represents a broad spectrum of devices, capabilities and responses
- Early schemes have tended to focus on smartphones and tablets, and offer BYOD on a complementary basis, with employee devices used alongside company technologies. Increasingly, organisations are considering BYOD for computers and schemes that aim to replace company technologies with employee-owned devices
- While responsibility for BYOD might sit with the CIO, a multidisciplinary team is required to develop coordinated policy, including colleagues from HR, legal and individual business units
- BYOD is likely to become increasingly common but unlikely to spell the end of the enterprise-provisioned device. Organisations operating BYOD programmes alongside company device schemes will seek to offer the best of both worlds to enterprise and employees
- Some organisations may need to assess the underlying drivers of BYOD, perhaps considering broadening company device ranges and shortening refresh windows. Other benefits may be realised through Bring-Your-Own-Application, a trend set to take centre stage which may amplify the benefits and challenges of BYOD.
About the research
This report, commissioned by IBM Software, comprises the findings of desk research (various surveys and commentaries) along with 13 in-depth interviews, conducted with organisations representing a UK workforce of more than 250,000. The findings are skewed towards larger enterprises, but may offer broad points of interest for all those concerned with technology in the workplace.
