BYOD

Blogger: Erika Stuart

BYOD or more commonly known as (Bring your own device) is a concept that started in the business world. This concept is about allowing employees to bring and use their own personal devices at work and even in some cases for work. Many people in business have two cellphones or two computers for the convince of keeping their work and home separate, but since those lines are getting fuzzier every day, many people have started using their personal devices for work purposes.

While this may be a good way to save big corporations money by not having to buying phones and computers for their employees, one of the biggest challenges that come with BOYD is security. While major companies have big security systems and firewalls, many personal computers may just have the basic protection. By allowing employees to bring in personal devices and connect them to the system, they run the risk of being hacked or getting a virus from the unprotected computers on their network. Aside from the risk of security, some companies also fear that letting employees use personal devices will decrease productivity. The article by Hughes titled “Bring Your Own Device or Bring Your Own Disruption?” Discusses the problems and some successful ways of bringing a BYOD policy into a company.

The concept of BYOD is spreading out from just the business world, its making its way into colleges, schools and libraries as well as other places. One way that the BYOD programs are proving beneficial are in schools. In the article by Kiger and Herro, called "Bring Your Own Device: Parental Guidance (pg) Suggested” it states that schools are embracing the BYOD policy due to increasing popularity of mobile computing and wanting to provide students greater access to technology, but with increasingly tighter budgets making it impossible the idea of BYOD is appealing. While mobile learning is on the rise, schools will have to face the issues of responsibility that come with allowing students to bring and use their own devices, as well as providing access to those students who do not have any devices to bring. Their article goes more into concept results and application in this department.

Another place BYOD may soon be making an appearance is in libraries. While not common yet, the increase in technology and eBooks is making staff need to be more technologically savvy to help their patrons. By allowing a BYOD policy, staff members can share the devices that they own and show other members how they work without the library spending money on devices and training that patrons may not use. The following is a link to another blog about this specific BYOD area.

Is Your Library Ready for BYOD? » Public Libraries Online

I hope this explained a little about BYOD and that you research more about it and decide for yourself if you think this kind of policy is good or not.

References

Hughes, J. "Bring Your Own Device or Bring Your Own Disruption? How to Handle the Mulitude of Challenges." Health Management Technology. 36.4 (2015): 14-5. Print.

Kiger, Derick, and Dani Herro. "Bring Your Own Device: Parental Guidance (pg) Suggested." Techtrends : Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learninga Publication of the Association for Educational Communications & Technology. 59.5 (2015): 51-61. Print.

Lyttle, Melanie A, and Sean D Walsh. “Is Your Library Ready for BYOD?” Public Libraries Online, Public Library Association, 6 June 2013, publiclibrariesonline.org/2013/06/is-your-library-ready-for-byod/.