BYOD: Expect Even More Personal Devices on the Network
Writing a BYOD policy is critical for establishing an effective security stance for managing office network. It is more important now than ever. Workplaces in the U.S. are seeing more personal devices connecting to office network. Additionally, employees expect companies to accommodate using the device of their choice to access network assets.
According to Gartner, relatively few workers receive mobile devices. A recent survey notes that while only 23 percent of workers are issued a corporate mobile phone, over half of those surveyed used personal smartphones on the job.
The adoption numbers for tablets for work use are lower, and lag behind smartphones in their adoption for completing work-related tasks. Only 21 percent of survey respondents use tablets in a working capacity—whether employee owned or company issued.
Desktop PCs remain the top work-issued device
Even in the age of mobility, the office desktop PC remains the most frequently company-issued productivity machine in U.S. workplaces. Workers are generally happy with the devices that their company buys for them, but are more likely to favor corporate-issued mobile devices.
Dell OptiPlex 3040
Dell OptiPlex 3040 | Skylake Intel Core i5 | 8 GB memory | 500 GB HDD for $650 (click for current pricing)
Our top-selling desktop PC for U.S. workplaces through the first three quarters in 2017 is the Dell OptiPlex 3040. A long-standing office favorite, OptiPlexes are know for 24/7 reliability, compact form factor, reputable Dell Warranty, and easy upgrades and maintenance.
“Usage of personally owned devices in the workplace is nothing new, but the survey results confirm that this trend has become a new workplace standard. Two-thirds of survey respondents said that they use a personally owned device or devices for work,” said Mikako Kitagawa, principal analyst at Gartner. “Smartphones and phablets are the most popular personally owned devices used for work, with 39 percent of employees using them, compared with just 10 percent who are only using corporate-issued smartphones and phablets.”
Infographic by Dana Choi
Demand grows for 2-in-1 laptops this year
Adoption rates for company issued 2-in-1 laptops comprise for 36 percent of devices purchases for employees, but Ms. Kitagawa anticipates that workplaces will see a rise YOY in 2017.
Lenovo Flex 5
The new Lenovo Flex 5 updates the best-selling Lenovo Flex 4 (click to see Lenovo 2-in-1 laptops)
Thus far this year, we have seen companies purchase the Lenovo Flex 4 most frequently. The now-obsolete laptop for business has been replaced by the new Lenovo Flex 5.
Additional resources:
- Rules for supporting Chromebooks on a Windows domain
- Choosing a company-issued business laptop
- Guide: Avoiding the Android Malware Epidemic
What are your key concerns for supporting more personal devices on the company network?
