The ability to adapt to the new remote working world has been essential for all businesses. This forced digital fast-forward has catapulted the need for more devices, something many businesses hadn’t considered pre-pandemic.
Take a quick scan of your workspace right now and there are bound to be at least two devices within easy reach. Having a mobile phone, laptop, or tablet for personal use is common, but if you ask your employees to use their personal devices for work, you may find there’s some resistance. Some may not be happy about using their personal devices for work, and others will expect compensation for data use, wear and tear and repairs. That’s why many employers go with business-owned devices.
No matter where you work or what you do, being given a device at work is almost always seen as a good thing. As an employer, investing in business- owned devices can be an efficient and convenient way to keep your business connected, but there’s certainly a lot to consider.
When deciding to supply your team with a device, you’ll always need to look at what makes the most sense for your business’s policies and finances.
Employee Productivity
Giving devices such as mobile phones or laptops to your team can help to create a happy and productive workforce. Employee productivity can flourish thanks to more flexibility, the ability to work from anywhere, and the reassurance that they have all the tools they need to do their job well. Any business-owned device should be a benefit of the role and employers need to set clear policies for their proper use and care. For example, an acceptable use policy clearly states what these devices can and cannot be used for.Data Privacy
With a business-owned device, your employees can work from anywhere giving them flexibility and freedom. That’s a really good thing! But it also opens a world of potential issues. If they connect to an unsecured network in a coffee shop or airport, your device could be at risk. But with a business-owned device, you can have security software pre-installed on devices such as firewalls and VPNs to protect your company’s private data.Security
Global cyberattacks increased by 38% in 2022, compared to 2021. The implications of a data breach can be devastating, so knowing you’ve done what you need to do as a company to follow security protocols is key. A business-owned device can come pre-installed with all the necessary computer security software to keep your company information as safe as possible. The same can’t be said for personal devices. Not all your employees are IT professionals. A business-owned device allows you to manage and quickly install updates, fix software issues, and respond to security protocols automatically. And should a device get lost or stolen, you can make sure that you have effective software installed so you can remotely control that device and stop anything sensitive getting into the wrong hands.For more support discover our free business support helpline and ​speak to one of our Business Advisers by phone, contact form or web chat.
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