Choosing the best 'bring your own' device program is not that hard

A guide to embracing a multi-device workstyle.

Driven by the rapid proliferation and evolution of mobile computing devices, employees today have increasing expectations and demands on the devices they use for work. According to a Citrix-commissioned study released this year, 92 percent of companies polled reported that they were aware their employees were using personal devices for work-related tasks.

To manage the unrelenting wave of IT devices being introduced in the marketplace today, organizations have to find new means of balancing employees’ freedom of choice and the company’s need to maintain control over sensitive corporate data, which can be leaked through non-company sanctioned devices.

This is where a “Bring Your Own” (BYO) device program, coupled with desktop virtualization technologies, can benefit businesses and employees. The BYO program is aimed at empowering employees by giving them the opportunity to bring the device that best suits their virtual workstyle into the workplace.

By allowing them to use their own devices, employees can easily access both personal and corporate information, gaining increased mobility, satisfaction, productivity and the ability to work from any location. At the same time, IT teams can save time and cost by simplifying IT infrastructure and reducing device management.

Below is a simple step-by-step guide to help companies adopt their very own BYO program.

1. Assess employees’ needs and requirements
Some employees may choose not to participate in a BYO program due to a lack of interest to maintain and manage their own devices. Additionally, depending on their roles and responsibilities, different employees will need different applications. IT would need to categorize corporate applications to ensure that all employees are sufficiently provided for.

2. Invest in desktop virtualization
Desktop virtualization allows IT to centrally manage employee desktops and deliver applications as an on-demand service. This enables employees to access secure virtual corporate desktops and apps that are available anytime, anywhere.

3. Design a BYO policy with key stakeholders
Implementing a BYO program across the organization requires all stakeholders, such as IT, HR and legal, to agree on a comprehensive set of policies for administration. The policies must
define eligibility, device and data ownership clauses, contractual obligations, general compliance and circumstances under which employees can be held accountable for breach of contract and how the matter or any other disputes will be processed.

4. Protect corporate data and intellectual property
IT needs to introduce different security profiles and custom security policies to employee-owned devices, including a policy to prohibit saving data on devices. By virtualizing corporate applications, IT can automatically and transparently encrypt all corporate data created through IT-delivered applications, even allowing IT to remotely erase the data in the event of a security breach.

5. Attain manager approval and employee agreement
Managers and employees alike should agree and commit to all BYO rules to ensure that the program satisfies the company’s policies, while supporting employees’ growing demand for virtual lifestyles and device flexibility.

6. Consider a stipend program
To encourage employees to self-provision their own device, companies can consider offering a stipend, which can be used to purchase a device of their choice.

7. Empower employees to self-provision and self-support

In a BYO program, employees legally own the laptop, tablet or smartphone. Therefore, they can be encouraged to assume responsibility for any maintenance of their device, while the corporate data that is generated, maintained or saved on the device remains the property of the organization.

Raising workplace efficiency with BYO

Forward-looking companies will realize the benefits of a mobile and flexible workforce that need not be bound by the walls of the office or 9-to-5 work days. A BYO program can provide a win-win situation for both enterprises and employees, while allowing organizations to remain efficient and competitive.

Yaj Malik
Area Vice-President, ASEAN Organization
Citrix PR
Contact: Chua Wei Wei
Ying Communications
weiwei.chua@yingcomms.com
M: +65 9833-2654