BYOD (bring your own device) refers to the practice of employees using their personal devices—such as smartphones, laptops, PCs, tablets, and other gear—on the job for the sake of convenience and comfort. It can save a company money (no up-front equipment costs), as well as cause headaches (IT and security concerns), but the BYOD trend is quickly becoming an office staple on par with scooters and ping-pong tables (your office may vary).
Variations of BYOD include BYOT (bring your own technology), BYOP (bring your own phone), BYOC (bring your own computer), BYOL (bring your own laptop), BYOA (bring your own apps), and the truly awkward BYOPC (bring your own personal computer). We’ll be using BYOD here because, again, it sounds like a party.
The real question for small businesses is morphing from Should we allow BYOD? to How do we manage BYOD? It’s already here, and there are more than a few factors to familiarize yourself with.