BYOD 2.0: How Enterprises will Manage Next Phase of Mobile Devices in 2014

“BYOD and BYOD 2.0 have their share of risks, but it is riskier to ignore the opportunities that the BYOD trends present”

The rate at which technologies evolve is so rapid that any current technology becomes a ‘thing of the past’ within a few months of its inception. Such a quick trend shift happens a lot, especially in the area of mobile devices. Yet, technology continues to evolve and drive economic growth that directly impacts our work and life. Needless to say, innovations in mobile technology create newer opportunities for users and challenges for enterprises. iPhones and iPads have revolutionized the mobile market and caused a paradigm shift in the way we work, giving by entirely changing the way we work and thus gave rise to bring you own device (BYOD). This trend is fast catching up among employees of various industries. Undoubtedly, it has created a myriad of challenges for enterprises in terms of data security and data leakage.

For enterprises that are unprepared to deal with such technological advancements, the future might look bleak. What with innovations such as the recently launched Smartwatches and the much awaited Google Glass, might unleash a new wave of BYOD; BYOD 2.0! Employees will continue So what does BYOD 2.0 mean to enterprises? According to Gartner, Mobile Device Diversity and Management is one among the top 10 strategic technology trends for 2014. Enterprises must read this as a word of caution from an analyst calling enterprises to actively embrace the change. Currently, enterprises handle various devices, such as smartphones and tablets. In addition, the wearable gadgets will further increase challenges for IT teams to handle a diversity of devices.



Data security is the primary challenge that IT faces in the backdrop of such technological advancements. Device mismanagement, besides device hacking and virus, contributes to data leakage in a big way. However, IT teams cannot restrict the usage of smartphones inside the company, because employees will continue to embrace the next wave of innovations and expect their employers to allow the new devices to be used for work.



Here is how to manage the wave of BYOD 2.0

Despite the dynamic developments across the mobile device ecosystem, the principles that govern them remain the same. Therefore, IT teams need to create strong policies, define device limitations, create awareness, and modify policies with small tweaks to accommodate the next-generation devices. Here are some IT tasks that you can perform to reduce the risks posed by the current and future BYOD:



1. Setting expectations

 Setting role-based and task-based expectations for devices streamlines users’ mobile activity, secures data, and ensures productivity.

2. Defining policies

Policies define the rights and responsibilities of your IT team and employees. They help safe guard the interests of your organization and employees. Under an effective legal policy, the policies comply with local laws and provide the right degree of employee privacy. The legal team must ensure that they devise executable policies.



3. Creating awareness

The IT team must train employees on the importance and advantages of BYOD regularly. Employees must be given a comprehensive understanding of the BYOD lifecycle; from self-enrollment to device retirement. Moreover, the IT team must share a conducive relationship with the end users. One-size-fits-all is not an option for managing mobile devices, because enterprise needs are unique. Some MDM vendors provide basic Mobile Device Management (MDM) features, and few others provide advanced features, such as Enterprise Mobility Management or Integrated Desktop and Mobile Device Management functionality.



4. Consider the following when you evaluate MDM software

- Create an MDM features checklist

- Create a checklist of MDM vendors who are market-ready (offering support to the latest products/platforms)

- Evaluate MDM vendors in terms of market presence and expertise

BYOD and BYOD 2.0 have their share of risks, but it is riskier to ignore the opportunities that the BYOD trends present. IT teams would do well if they could take a leaf out of Apple’s first iPhone release; Being Proactive! IT teams must become early adopters of innovations and equip themselves for the possible risks and ensure that their organization data is secure.