An insight guide BYOD: Realising the business benefits
The consumerisation of IT has arrived Consumers are now tech savvy, own a multitude of devices and are adept at operating the latest technologies. The growing dependence on the digital sphere, coupled with the explosion of social media, has meant the typical employee is never far from their smartphone, tablet or laptop. And it s directly affecting businesses. Whether it s the CEO wanting to use an ipad in meetings, or a member of the sales team bringing their laptop to the office, employee demand to use personal devices at work is growing. So how can you use this to your advantage? BYOD bring-your-own-device is a simple concept. Instead of providing employees with devices, businesses support staff in bringing their own devices to work. What should that support look like? Why should you bother? 1 Staying ahead of the game 2 BYOD means cost efficiency 3 BYOD means choice 4 BYOD means mobility 5 Protection 6 Realising the business benefits 2
1 Staying ahead of the game The office of tomorrow looks something like this: CEO using his ipad to present quarterly results to the board. Account manager responding to emails while in dentist waiting room. CFO working from home during bad weather. Operations and security teams moving to same desk for one-week project, taking their devices with them. Director finishing report while on the train to client s premises. Sales team working on Dell laptops, Apple Macbooks and Blackberry Playbooks, all accessing the same desktop and data. A streamlined IT department managing a centralised, virtualised environment. BYOD is what makes it happen. 3
A successful BYOD strategy should incorporate the following elements: A local area network (LAN) or wireless local area network (WLAN), to link up all devices to the corporate infrastructure. Security identity services, to verify that each user is who they claim to be, and to give them the correct level of network access. Mobile device management (MDM) and security applications, to protect against malware and other malicious threats. A virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) or hosted virtual desktop (HVD), to centralise and secure software, applications and user preferences. Data Centre Infrastructure a robust, converged server and storage solution capable of supporting the key virtualised and non-virtualised elements of the solution delivering desktops and applications to the end devices. Training and procedures to educate all employees and visitors about appropriate use of the BYOD system. Go with this multifaceted approach and you can enjoy all the benefits of BYOD safely and securely, from cost efficiency to mobility 4
2 BYOD means cost efficiency IT departments no longer have to provide devices, allowing them to focus their efforts elsewhere. The traditional business model of most IT department involves a large outlay on employees devices. Sourcing, purchasing and supporting those devices then becomes the department s main function. It can be a frustrating model. With many innovative technologies becoming outdated within two years, device provision can become a repetitive and expensive process. Spending all their time simply keeping up with licensing and upgrades, IT managers are unable to focus on the bigger picture IT for business transformation. 40% of UK CIO s 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 5
Perhaps it s not surprising then that 40% of CIOs believe companies will stop providing physical desktops for their employees within five years. BYOD provides businesses with a different, more efficient economic model. Some employees will use devices they already own. Others can be provided with a standard technology allowance, which they can spend on the device of their choice. There s no unpredictable device outlay for your business, just a standard, pre-planned cost per user. IT personnel can spend less time on sourcing and purchasing devices and more time on making the department and the business more efficient and more innovative. IT departments can turn their attention to long-term strategic improvements that could benefit the business as a whole, rather than just providing provisions and support. 6
3 BYOD means choice End users have more options, working from the device that best suits them. Attitudes towards technology are changing. A recent survey from Fortinet found that young 20-something workers feel that using their own devices at work is a right rather than a privilege. Mobile devices have become personal. Integrate them into the office and it s easy to see how you will be more appealing to employees current and potential. Want to attract the elite technologically savvy talent? Give them choice and flexibility in how they work. 45% of CIOs see improved productivity and motivation as the key benefits of BYOD. The office environment becomes more open and flexible, as end users carry out activities on the platform and format that suits them lifting the rigid methods previously imposed by IT departments. This openness and flexibility can alter the face of the IT department. A change of this magnitude requires a CIO that is ready to think strategically and overhaul an outdated infrastructure. The network needs to be pliable and uniform across various platforms to cater for a diverse range of devices. Users need a comparable experience regardless of how they access the data and applications: Laptops -> Tablets -> Smartphones (type) Windows XP -> Windows 7 -> Windows 8 (operating system) Macbook -> Macbook Pro -> Macbook Air (model) iphone -> HTC Desire -> Samsung Galaxy (brand) Providing employees with increased choice can increase output and improve morale. It may require an overhaul of existing systems, but a network that is device agnostic allows companies to stay at the leading edge of rapidly evolving mobile technology. 7
4 BYOD means mobility Employees can work from home and on the move. They can work how, when and where is best for them. Maybe your employees need to move between different sites. Maybe they need to be able to work while travelling to client meetings. Maybe they need the opportunity to work from home. BYOD enables this digital freedom. Through mobile working, if employees need to be at home for a morning, or collect their children in the afternoon, they can, with no impact on their work. Journeys between business sites and clients become productive work time. Bad weather no longer keeps employees away from their desks. Need to look at your carbon footprint? Mobile working can reduce travel needs too. Mobility can increase productivity within the office too. Employees no longer tied to single desks can enjoy a more fluid, flexible working environment, with more collaboration between individuals and teams. Anywhere network access allows for hot desking, whereby employees can work from any seat, knowing they can log onto the network regardless of location. Organising temporary projects between different areas of the workforce becomes simple. 45% of CIOs see improved productivity and motivation as the key benefits of BYOD 8
5 Protection All sounds good? There are some challenges involved, and these must be approached head on. 64% of CIOs rank security as the biggest risk when deploying BYOD. BYOD makes data more mobile as well as employees. You must ensure that adequate measures are in place to protect important information, both day-to-day and in the case of a lost or stolen device. This should include Identity services and mobile device management applications A VDI or HDV A watertight BYOD policy on acceptable use, alongside staff training 14% of CIOs are concerned about support staff availability. 9
Deploying BYOD may expand the variety of device manufacturers and operating systems the IT department is dealing with. You must ensure you have the expertise to support them. This could include a mixture of inhouse management, manufacturer and vendor support, and expert technology partners. Design your BYOD strategy to incorporate comprehensive security and support, and put power back in the hands of your IT department. Secured cloud 64% of CIOs rank security as the biggest risk when deploying BYOD 10
6 Realising the business benefits At Intrinsic Technology, we can give you the tools, advice and expertise to implement a BYOD scheme that is right for your company. Whether you re a multinational corporation, or a small, family run business, we can transform your network into a device agnostic system, getting you ahead of the curve. We re a top-level partner to expert manufacturers including Cisco, Citrix, Good, Mobile Iron and NetApp. We hold endorsements such as Cisco s Identity Services Engine ATP accreditation, so we can deliver installations and support of the industry s leading BYOD technology. 64% of CIOs are concerned about support staff availability 11
Contact us For more information on how to make the right BYOD choices for your business, contact Intrinsic. t 0844 474 0440 e info@intrinsic.co.uk www.intrinsic.co.uk 12
About Intrinsic Intrinsic is a next generation managed services provider. It enables organisations to become operationally and culturally agile through smart, adaptive technology strategies that respond effectively to everyday challenges. As the UK s leading provider of Hybrid IT Managed Services, Intrinsic enables organisations to transition, flex and integrate between on-premise and cloud-based service ways of working. It provides a unique blend of expertise with a hand-picked suite of emerging and established technology solutions. Intrinsic is a market leader in developing solutions that enable mid-market sized organisations to address specific challenges, from organisational growth and operational transformation to cost management and market differentiation. 18 The Parks, Haydock, Merseyside, WA12 0JQ t 0844 474 0440 f 0844 474 0443 e sales@intrinsic.co.uk www.intrinsic.co.uk