Enterprises are constantly coming up with ways to cut spending, improve efficiency and increase profits. The BYOD policy was one such policy which gained immense popularity among businesses. With the COPE policy emerging, BYOD might become a thing of the past. Let us analyse these two policies and look into their relevance in the workplace today.
App developers require sophisticated devices with the latest OS to test their apps. The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy, as the name suggests allows app developers to bring their own devices to work. Initially introduced with the idea of cutting costs, the BYOD policy has evolved into so much more. Enterprises adopting this policy have seen a steep increase in productivity and employee satisfaction. App developers are most comfortable working on their own device, because they know it best. This policy also allows people to take home their work.
However, enterprises have been reluctant to embrace this policy for a number of reasons. Their biggest cause for worry, is security of data. With employees taking home privileged information on their personal devices, enterprises are afraid their security will be comprised. Also, when a employee leaves the company they take their device loaded with sensitive information with them. The control of privileged data is no longer retained by the enterprise.
The Corporate Owned, Personally Enabled (COPE) policy is the reverse of the BYOD policy. The device is provided by the Enterprise, but the employees are allowed to use the devices for personal purposes as well. The COPE policy eliminates the security issue completely. As the device is owned by the company they retain all control over information on it. While the employees are allowed to personalize it, the device is never truly theirs. If they leave the company they leave the device behind.
COPE is the perfect alternate to the BYOD policy making both the employee and the enterprise happy.
