For many companies, enacting a BYOD policy is just standard operating procedure. To most employees, it’s simply a given that they will be able to use their device of choice in any way they want.
But if you’re in a regulated industry, like a healthcare facility or financial institution, enacting a BYOD policy can have more challenges – yet it’s these types of businesses where popular BYOD devices are most useful or desired.
In healthcare facilities, patient centered care is truly happening at the patient now, due to technology like tablets. Nurses and doctors are able to access PHI (protected health information) on computers and tablets in the waiting room and then communicate and update these records in real time giving unprecedented access.
Long-term care facilities are also implementing many new technologies. As the baby boomers enter facilities, they and their families will expect access to the latest technologies. Additionally, if technology is used strategically and implemented correctly, it can improve efficiency in healthcare facilities, allowing medical staff to finish paperwork faster and get back to their patients or residents.
For financial institutions, technology also improves efficiency as well as ensures customer satisfaction. In addition to ATMS, banks need to have online portals and mobile apps to keep their clients connected with access to their money anytime, anywhere. The key factor is security. It’s imperative that these networks are protected and private information remains private.
There are many regulations and standards that you will be required to meet to ensure that sensitive information is protected. The question becomes how to respect and comply with these standards while also meeting the electronic flexibility that employees demand.
Here are some key questions to think about:
- What standards must your business meet, for example: HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley, etc.
- What type of devices are most employees interested in using (smart phones, tablets, personal laptops)
- How much data do your employees really need access to on these devices?
- Will complete access really contribute to increased productivity?
- How will you encrypt or protect the data that employees will be accessing?
- How are you prepared for the event of a misplaced device?
It is vital that your business really understand the answers to all of these questions before enacting a BYOD policy. If you are trying to set up your own BYOD policy, feel free to leave a question or comment below – NetGain Technologies has internal experts that can guide you through the path to a BYOD policy that fits your organization.
