Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

pparks1

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Anybody work in an environment that utilizes BYOD? By this, I mean they either expect you to bring in your own computer device or give you the option.

I'm very curious as to how these companies handle support of these devices. For example
  • Hardware support: If the device breaks, and you cannot work, who pays for the repair?
  • Software/Security support: Are you required to run certain security apps (like AV, etc)?
  • How do you deal with internal applications and whether or not they run on the configuration of the computer?
  • How do you handle software compliance and licensing? If the employee has a ton of pirated software, how as a business do you protect yourself against this?

These are just a few of the things that I have thought of with this concept of supplying your own device. I'm sure there are many more concerns.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
This is how it works for my wanting to use my iPhone:

I can get my email. If I have problems, it's my responsibility to fix it. They provide zero support. I have to have a pass code.

When it comes to my laptop: macbook pro: AD is a no go since AD is not in OS X. If I ran a Windows VM, I could join via AD and be required to have a password and allow SCCM to push Endpoint 2012 and required updates. I also would require AD admin accounts to be added for remote wipe and lockdown if necessary. This isn't unlike a lot of large corporations that run AD and System Center.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8, Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Z210
    Internet Speed
    25mbps
So, in your case, it's more like BYOAD (Bring Your Own Additional Device), and they still provide standard issue computers and such.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
I've worked (as a consultant) on quite a few VDI/BYOD scenarios the last year or so, and some go off well (and some don't). However, in the true BYOD scenario, the following is true:

  • Hardware support: If the device breaks, it was yours. Companies may or may not have loaners for people on short notice, but the device is yours and needs fixing under the warranty your device manufacturer provides you as part of the sale (if one exists).
  • Software/Security support: Given most BYOD scenarios are not full work environments, but usually VDI or terminal services for the core corp apps (installing what's left on your own machine, if any), this isn't really much an issue. However, if this is a "you bring the device, we'll give you the installers" environment, this gets tricky, messy, expensive, and these are the scenarios where we find it just "doesn't work" long term. Woe be to you if this is the organization's desired scenario, in my many experiences with this choice. Ultimately, the IT staff will still end up having to manage something - either it'll be random software on random devices, or crap going on past your devices and on the network or server endpoints (because of said configuration, there's no real way to know/plan for issues, bugs, etc).
  • Internal Apps: Again, as with the previous statement, most organizations provide a VDI / Terminal Services environment for people to connect into for at least the base / core of the app stack. If not, it's a hodge-podge and IT will have to lay down some guidelines for what's allowed with BYOD - otherwise, you end up with lots of interspersed virtual machines running some variant of some OS that runs <x> because it won't run natively, and that usually costs some money as well. As to piracy, well, unfortunately, BYOD opens you up to this. You either control the endpoint, or you don't, and there are consequences to each. BYOD just shifts issues from one part of IT to another, it really doesn't do anything to make things better (or, to be fair, worse).

I've also worked on a few (lately) CYOD (choose your own device) solutions lately, where the organization provides users a (usually quite wide) range of hardware and software choices for their next corporate PC or Mac, which works better - it's more expensive up front (BYOD is usually chosen to save up-front hardware costs under the guise of choice), but it tends to be cheaper to support and maintain going forward, whilst still providing a semblance of the choice users tend to like about BYOD solutions.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 4790K @ 4.5GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Maximus Hero VII
    Memory
    32GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GTX970
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Hard Drives
    1x Samsung 250GB SSD
    4x WD RE 2TB (RAIDZ)
    PSU
    Corsair AX760i
    Case
    Fractal Design Define R4
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15
So, in your case, it's more like BYOAD (Bring Your Own Additional Device), and they still provide standard issue computers and such.

Yeah. They're stingy, but stuff is provided. I wish I could use my own devices, exclusively, though. I'd much rather use my MBP with a couple monitors on it than what I use now (HP Z400 and Asus UX31A).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8, Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Z210
    Internet Speed
    25mbps
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