Bring Your Own Software (BYOS), Not BYOD, Is Real Challenge

Many U.S. companies are worried about bring your own device (BYOD) triggering security, privacy and intellectual property problems. But perhaps the bigger issue threat is Bring Your Own Software (BYOS) or Bring Your Own App (BYOA). That's MSPmentor's spin based on a research report from Huddle and Ipsos MORI.

Nearly 75 percent of U.S. office workers leveraging company-issued tablets have downloaded personal software and applications onto them. Fully 62 percent do the same on company-issued smartphones and 45 percent on company-issued laptops. Read between the lines: Businesses often control the hardware without locking down the software.

The most common applications downloaded by U.S office workers may not be a surprise: 44 percent admitted to using company-issued devices to download personal software such as iTunes, Spotify and Dropbox. A majority of 52 percent said they store, share and work on work-related documents via their personal smartphones, tablets and laptops.

These numbers may be familiar to MSPs, but they may not be so recognizable by customers. Only 23 percent of the 2,000 respondents were aware of their organization’s BYOD policy, something MSPs can grab a piece of — if they can jump on the hanging opportunity.

Instead of replacing company-issued devices, employee-owned devices are coexisting with them, the survey stated. With that being said, organizations are in a bit of a security conundrum and MSPs have the answer: Hire a company with knowledge, expertise and awareness today's security gaps. Don't you think?