MDM: BYOD Policies Not Communicated to Employees

If employers are not communicating their BYOD policies to employees, is the managed services provider (MSP) that the company hired at fault? GLOBO recently released a survey revealing a lack of communication when it comes to bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies between employers and its employees.

CJ Arlotta, Associate Editor

December 28, 2012

2 Min Read
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If employers are not communicating their BYOD policies to employees, is the managed services provider (MSP) that the company hired at fault? GLOBO recently released a survey revealing a lack of communication when it comes to bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies between employers and its employees. Whose responsibility is it to notify employees of BYOD and mobile device management (MDM) policies? We'll weigh in.

The mobile software vendor's survey revealed that there is a significant lack of communication between companies and their employees with respect to BYOD. According to the survey, 68 percent of respondents said they use their personal devices for work, while only 29 percent said their company actually has a BYOD policy in place. Another 42 percent of respondents did not know if their company's BYOD policies allow IT to have full access to employee personal devices. Anyone see a problem here?

An MSP cannot force a client to reveal BYOD policies to its employees, but an MSP can advise it (and should). In fact, MSPs should offer to hold group sessions to help clients, including their employees, understand BYOD policies. More than likely, employees lack the knowledge to understand what BYOD and MDM policies mean for them. Help your clients educate their employees.

Other findings in the survey include:

  • 14 percent report that they don't know if their company currently has a BYOD policy,

  • 69 percent said that they would not consider breaking a company policy in regards to BYOD even if they knew that they would not get caught,

  • 93 percent of respondents said that they would not participate in a BYOD program If IT clearly stated that they have access to their employee's personal information such as emails and contacts.

Do you already help your clients educate their employees on BYOD policies? If so, how?

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About the Author

CJ Arlotta

Associate Editor, Nine Lives Media, a division of Penton Media

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