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Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
Jeremy Fennema – Tech Innovation Alchemist
The BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) trend is nothing new. But workers’ perceptions of using their own tech tools in the office is remarkably telling of our evolving workplace culture.
According to new research conducted by Egnyte, a BYOD policy would encourage employees to utilise more of their otherwise ‘wasted’ work time, such as commuting. But many would also feel compelled to work during their personal time.
A combined 72.3% felt that a BYOD policy would either take up more of, or make respondents “feel obliged” to, work in their personal time. 27.9% said their personal time would not be affected, while 19.7% felt it would make their work life easier.
This is an interesting kick-back on mobile working trends. While the ability to work on the move is hailed as a boon for companies in terms of productivity, more workers are taking stock of the possibility that – far from improving work/life balance – using mobile devices for work can actually lead to an invasion of privacy.
Security concerns
However, this isn’t likely to hold companies back from offering BYOD. If anything the trend is only set to escalate – and this serves to amplify the security risks associated with BYOD, of which business centre operators must be acutely aware.
When asked if users would be conscious of the files accessed on their personal devices, 26.8% replied ‘No’ – suggesting that more than a quarter would not check whether files they access are from a trusted or safe source.
Furthermore when asked whether they believe BYOD puts the privacy of company documents at risk, a convincing 71.7% replied ‘Yes’.
The topic of BYOD was discussed at length during ABCN’s recent WorldView Forum in Budapest, and Egnyte’s research corresponds with many of those security concerns.
Vanishing act
And of course security isn’t the only element of BYOD that requires workspace operators’ attention.
Business centre operators should also be aware that, in our evolving workplace culture, telecoms and the provision of telephone hardware is expected to change rapidly, beyond recognition.
According to Frank Cottle, Chairman of ABCN, it may well die out completely within the next 3 years: “Classic handsets and desk-bound phones will be replaced by mobile devices and Internet-based soft phones,” he said, during his presentation on ‘Vanishing Acts’.
“The ‘tipping point’ is coming. If you haven’t already, get a BYOD policy in place and be prepared to change the way you supply and charge for your telecoms.”
While Egnyte’s research shows a somewhat surprising reaction from workers who are in some ways kicking back on a BYOD policy, it certainly doesn’t suggest that the trend is slowing down. Instead, business centre operators must be aware of the increasing accessibility of mobile technologies and act accordingly – starting with a re-write of their telecoms policies.
How are you adapting to your clients’ BYOD requirements? Do you already have a policy in place? How do you foresee business centre telecoms evolving within the next few years? Let us know.
