Most people are well-acquainted with the concept of BYOB .But could
the acronym BYOD (bring you own device) be about to revolutionise the
way councils and other public bodies operate?
One in five local authorities in England are reported to be looking at the idea of allowing their staff to use their own mobile phones, laptops and other devices at work while IT managers say the concept has risen up their agenda with “astonishing speed”.
Steve Halliday, head of information communications technology at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, suggests it is a natural step.
“You would not expect your company to provide your own suits or shoes and the company car has become much less prevalent than it used to be,” he says.
“Your personal device is quite intimate and people will choose and want to use the devices they want.”
‘Pleasant experience’
In the past six months, he says 12% of his staff have shifted to using their own devices at work – as well as 9% doing the same from home – and he expects this number to rise.
As well as giving staff a “richer experience”, he says it has led to quicker and more efficient decision-making, citing the council’s ability to co-ordinate its response to the recent floods in the west Midlands.
The process is being driven by staff – some of whom want to use “the squeaky toys they got for Christmas” at work and others who are fed up having to go through the log-in protocol of office computers or simply want to be less tied to their desks.
“Nobody is being forced to do so,” he adds. “But I think it is a more pleasant experience being able to use the device you want rather than whatever the council can afford to buy you.”
This is not a purely money-saving exercise, he insists, although it is clearly less expensive than other options.
The council will not pay for staff to buy the device of their dreams – but it is considering how those who use their own technology to the benefit of the council and taxpayers can be rewarded.
Surrey County Council and the Essex Online Partnership – a consortium of county and districts councils – are among the other public sector organisations pioneering the use of BYOD.
In a recent report, the body which represents IT managers in the public and voluntary sectors – Socitm – set out some of the potential benefits and pitfalls involved.
It warns that councils wanting to buy devices and lease them – or offer allowances to staff to buy them – face potential tax liabilities.
Organisations also need to consider how they can support multiple software platforms and deal separately with corporate and personal information in the inevitable event of devices being lost.
As for security, it acknowledges the “obvious” risk of running business and personal applications side-by-side and urges councils to upgrade their “conditions of acceptable use” policies for employees.
One in five local authorities in England are reported to be looking at the idea of allowing their staff to use their own mobile phones, laptops and other devices at work while IT managers say the concept has risen up their agenda with “astonishing speed”.
Steve Halliday, head of information communications technology at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, suggests it is a natural step.
“You would not expect your company to provide your own suits or shoes and the company car has become much less prevalent than it used to be,” he says.
“Your personal device is quite intimate and people will choose and want to use the devices they want.”
‘Pleasant experience’
In the past six months, he says 12% of his staff have shifted to using their own devices at work – as well as 9% doing the same from home – and he expects this number to rise.
As well as giving staff a “richer experience”, he says it has led to quicker and more efficient decision-making, citing the council’s ability to co-ordinate its response to the recent floods in the west Midlands.
The process is being driven by staff – some of whom want to use “the squeaky toys they got for Christmas” at work and others who are fed up having to go through the log-in protocol of office computers or simply want to be less tied to their desks.
“Nobody is being forced to do so,” he adds. “But I think it is a more pleasant experience being able to use the device you want rather than whatever the council can afford to buy you.”
This is not a purely money-saving exercise, he insists, although it is clearly less expensive than other options.
The council will not pay for staff to buy the device of their dreams – but it is considering how those who use their own technology to the benefit of the council and taxpayers can be rewarded.
Surrey County Council and the Essex Online Partnership – a consortium of county and districts councils – are among the other public sector organisations pioneering the use of BYOD.
In a recent report, the body which represents IT managers in the public and voluntary sectors – Socitm – set out some of the potential benefits and pitfalls involved.
It warns that councils wanting to buy devices and lease them – or offer allowances to staff to buy them – face potential tax liabilities.
Organisations also need to consider how they can support multiple software platforms and deal separately with corporate and personal information in the inevitable event of devices being lost.
As for security, it acknowledges the “obvious” risk of running business and personal applications side-by-side and urges councils to upgrade their “conditions of acceptable use” policies for employees.
Comments
Post a Comment