BYOD: To Bring or Not to Bring

Bring Your Own Device, or BYOD, is a trend that seems to be catching on lately in the workplace. At the very least, there’s been considerable discussion about it in the IT Asset Management (ITAM) community. Why?  One good reason has to do with the environment.

We can reduce the environmental impact of electronics manufacturing through reducing production (for example, using a single computer for both personal and professional use). But will it really? Or will it instead just drive faster computer refresh cycles for all those techies who want the latest and greatest? The success of BYOD in the workplace really depends on its definition and scope.

But what are the arguments against it? I can count at least three.

Cost Implications of BYOD

Like pushing down on one side of the balloon, only to have the other side swell, the costs may be reduced in one area of the lifecycle support processes, but they will surely be increased in others. To compute the full costs, you must look at subsequent support and management costs as well as initial acquisition costs. BYOD will no doubt drive higher help desk call volumes and handle times. Then there’s the increased risk for loss of productivity caused by downtime when a personally owned device requires break-fix support. Read my colleague Dave Duhl's blog addressing BYOD IT support issues.

Security Implications of BYOD

The increased asset management costs required to monitor security threats that BYOD introduces just to offset the lack of control and ownership is a serious factor in the equation. Read Jeff Kramer's blog addressing BYOD security issues.

Bottom Line Implications of BYOD

Ultimately, of course, all of this impacts the bottom line profitability of the company. Which in turn drives shareholder dissatisfaction. I don't know about you, but if at the end of the day if something is not cost-effective--either passing along that cost to me the customer or assuming a loss in profitability to support--I am neither a happy customer nor a happy shareholder.

Individuals do not want their personal belongings restricted or limits put on their usage. And businesses do not want the additional risk and costs required to manage and support all these personal devices. Nor do customers and shareholders want to suffer the consequences.

The environment will benefit when individuals and businesses alike practice sustainable technology lifecycle management and IT asset disposition practices. Read Carol Baroudi's blog addressing the sustainability issues of BYOD.

The real answer:

• Reduce--you don't always need the latest and greatest
• Reuse--extend the life, through resale or donation), and when the useful life is over…
• Recycle responsibly--to its components for use in manufacturing, thus reducing the impact from the need to mine raw materials and the social and environmental impact of recycling e-waste. If you are not familiar the devastation, watch this video

Truth be told, there are varying Shades of Green IT. How would or is BYOD impacting your environmental policy? Post your comments.