The rise of tablets and smartphones use has led to the preference of devices that are customized to the user's need. For instance, when employees are not using their smartphones, they are syncing it to their employer's network to help them work better. And let's face it, it seems more flexible to work on a tablet if you still have to work from home or on the go. Bringing your own devices to work can create a comfort zone around the employee, which can improve morale, and in turn the efficiency of the employee. But companies see a potential risk in this scenario Since the device would be in control of the employee, there is potential of serious security breaches in the company, if not dealt with properly. A BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy refers to a set of rules to be followed by the employee while bringing his/her personal device to work. It's also known as Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT), Bring Your Own Phone (BYOP), and Bring Your own PC (BYOPC). This policy has even employed across colleges and schools where students feel more comfortable working on their own devices. This speeds up the learning process and increases efficiency and productivity. It has become popular enough to be adopted by 70% of the IT workforce and effectively used in 75% of high-growth markets such as Brazil and Russia. Although encouraging such a policy boosts employee morale, it also has high-risk concerns. The rules in each organization differ according to the device used and the application factors. To address these risks, a policy is advocated.

• Specify the devices which can be brought to the workplace and if the server can support them.
• Since the employees are bringing their own devices, they need to incur the cost of internet use. This needs to be clearly specified or explained to employees during BYOD training.
• Establish strict measures as to which apps are allowed on the particular device, as third-party apps are always vulnerable to malware and phishing attacks.
• You need to ensure that your device is password-protected and report immediately in case of theft or loss.
• Mobile device management (MDM) software needs to be installed so that sensitive information related to the company can be remotely erased.
• Make sure that the security software can be easily installed on new devices.
• Compile a list of websites that are safe to view within the company as well as the amount of access a company has over the BYOD.
• If an employee plans on quitting the company, he needs to submit his/her device to the company so that it can erase any data privy to the company.
• The employee should sign an acknowledgement document agreeing to all the terms and conditions in the policy, which he thereby needs to sign.

Pros ▲ Reduces the technology expenses related to any software or hardware. ▲ Employees become more responsible while handling the devices since they own them. ▲ Since employees can work on their own devices, it can boost productivity and morale of the employee, as they no longer have to work with restrictions. ▲ BYOD policies also help attract better employees as they prefer using their own devices over company-issued laptops. Cons ▼ Security of the system and data can be compromised since the network is being accessed from unsecured devices. ▼ Supporting 'n' number of operating systems and devices can be a huge burden on the resources of the company. ▼ The company may need to shell out extra for licensing fees on these devices. ▼ Providing employees access to sensitive data may be a gamble since they sensitive or important data/information be stolen or end up in the wrong hands. Although the BYOD policy is pretty effective, it's not devoid of drawbacks. To ensure the safety of the company, employees need to sign the BYOD policy on being hired. The BYOD policy would have the same effects if employed in a school and would encourage students to learn better.