“Bring your own device” (BYOD) sounds like savings. But the full picture is more complicated.

BYOD: advantages

– Lower hardware spending

– Employees use devices they prefer

– Fewer devices for people to carry

BYOD: risks

– Security: you don’t control the device’s patching, apps, or other users

– Data separation: business and personal data mix

– Support burden: many models and operating system versions

– Offboarding: removing company data from a personal device is harder

– Legal and privacy: monitoring personal devices raises privacy issues, particularly under Quebec’s Law 25

Company-owned: advantages

– Full control over configuration, encryption, and updates

– Standard models simplify support

– Easy remote wipe and recovery

– Clear policy and ownership

Company-owned: drawbacks

– Higher upfront cost

– Staff carry a personal and a work device

– Lifecycle management responsibility

Middle ground options

– COPE (corporate-owned, personally enabled): the company owns the device and allows limited personal use

– BYOD with app protection: use Intune app protection policies to secure work apps and data without taking over the whole device

Recommendations

– Use company-owned devices for laptops and anyone handling sensitive data

– Allow BYOD for phones with app protection, if appropriate

– Write a clear policy covering security requirements, support, privacy, and what happens when staff leave

DBR Soft can help you design and implement a device policy that balances cost and security. Contact us for more information.