Why Everyone Gets It Wrong About BYOD 377
snydeq writes "Brian Katz offers a simple take on the buzz around BYOD in business organizations these days: 'BYOD is only an issue because people refuse to realize that it's just about ownership — nothing more and nothing less.' A 'hidden issue' hiding in plain view, BYOD's ownership issue boils down to money and control. 'BYOD is pretty clear: It's bringing your own device. It isn't the company's device or your best friend's device. It's your device, and you own it. Because you own the device, you have certain rights to what is on the device and what you can do with the device. This is the crux of every issue that comes with BYOD programs.'"
Point = missed (Score:3, Interesting)
Because you own the device, you have certain rights to what is on the device and what you can do with the device. This is the crux of every issue that comes with BYOD programs.'"
Okay, let me make this simple; You're in IT security. Let's say you just threw open the doors and let anyone bring their own laptop in to work. Well, you know, and I know, that people are stupid. They're going to be infected with malware, viruses, APTs, and god only knows what. And that's the point: You don't know what's being brought in. You have no control now. And let's say as a result of someone doing this, they pass on a piece of malware, not to your super-secure corporate systems, but to another employee who's also brought in their own device.
Who's legally at fault here: The employee who accidentally (or neglegently!) brought in an infected laptop, the other employee who connected their own laptop and accidentally (or neglegently!) got it infected... or the company whose network policy facilitated this? And here's a better question: Who do you think both employees are going to sue, thus costing your company millions in unrecoverable legal fees (even if you win, you ain't going to see that money again).
Ownership here is indeed the issue; Just not device ownership. Specifically, the cost of ownership; which if you allow this stuff on your network, the cost of owning that network is going to rise due to incidental costs. How much, nobody knows for sure -- this is still a relatively new thing (in the business world anything less than 10 years old is 'new').
Re:BYOD means I/T loses some control over it (Score:4, Interesting)
Then it sounds like you and the rest of the IT staff were incompetent. I work at a company right now that's been using a BYOD approach for nearly 5 years with no real issues. And with only 4 IT staff to support around 400 people.
Re:BYOD means I/T loses some control over it (Score:5, Interesting)
1990 called - they want your manually set proxy server back.
We proxy everything, but the users are none the wiser and its a university where BYOD isn't even something we can control.
Re:BYOD means I/T loses some control over it (Score:5, Interesting)
Then tell management to stop being cheapskate morons and BUY the employees tablets and phones.
Honestly the one thing that screams that the management is a bunch of Douschebags is a BYOD policy. If a company is work working for they buy you a tablet and phone if you need it as well as a laptop if you need it. The only places I have ever seen a BYOD requirement has been either fly-by-night or swirling the drain. If a company can afford to pay you 6 figures they can spend $1600 on a laptop every 2 years and $50 a month to get you a smartphone.