Addressing the Challenges of the ‘Bring Your Own Device’ Opportunity

Holly Ansaldi, CPA

The advancing capabilities of smartphones have triggered drastic changes within the workplace, such as the introduction of “bring your own device” (BYOD) programs. BYOD programs have resulted from the escalating importance of smartphones, tablets, and mobile computing in offices, school, and government offices. Companies have seen numerous benefits—increased employee satisfaction, improved productivity, reduced costs, and an expanded number of mobile users—from allowing employees to use their own devices in the workplace. But companies are also facing new security, policy, and legal challenges as employees use personal mobile devices to access networks and confidential data. Although these changes continue to grow in complexity, companies have found few solutions to the challenges they present.