BYOD Industry Trends to Watch in 2022

11 February 2021 | Posted by Don Kiernan

The last few years have seen enterprises embrace Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiatives like never before. Hybrid working, developments in Bring Your Own Network (BYON), and the proliferation of the Internet of Things (IoT) have instigated widespread change. So, how will BYOD change in 2022?

As BYOD solutions continues to evolve, enterprises will need to reevaluate their existing policies to cater to emerging trends and keep up with an ever-evolving digital environment. 

Here are some of the key trends to look out for in 2022 and beyond:

  • BYOD popularity has grown
  • 5G and IoT technologies affect BYOD policies
  • Bring Your Own Network should be considered
  • End-user compliance is still a concern

BYOD Industry Trends in 2022

1.  BYOD Popularity

In 2018, the popularity of BYOD policies was declining. Four years later, the response has completely shifted. Global challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerated the adoption of flexible and agile working solutions, and BYOD was a key enabler. 

Senior leadership and employees alike appreciate the ability to choose their own device. 69% of IT-decision makers say that BYOD is a good addition to their enterprise, and a significant 87% of businesses rely on their employees' ability to access mobile applications from their personal smartphones. 

Employees have become adept at using personal devices to manage workloads and access corporate networks. For enterprises, it's essential to have a comprehensive BYOD policy to enable greater flexibility across your workforce. So, it's clear BYOD solutions are here to stay. 

2. 5G and IoT Technologies

In 2022, the continued rise in remote working will drive the convergence of existing BYOD and 5G trends into an IoT megatrend.

5G will power a diverse fleet of smart, connected IoT devices that employees can utilize to get their jobs done at home or in the office.

These devices already include enhanced wearables, digital assistants, and more.  However, the speed, resilience, and availability of 5G is poised to create new categories of smart BYOD 'things' that will need to be managed alongside existing tools and applications.

It's estimated there will be 1.3 billion subscriptions for IoT-related technologies by 2023. And at the end of 2021, there was an average of 35 billion connected devices installed around the world. Organizations will need to rethink their existing BYOD solutions to cater to IoT devices, in addition to managing the associated costs.

Read our guide to writing a comprehensive enterprise BYOD policy today.

3. Bring Your Own Network Initiatives

Another trend that has rapidly gathered pace is Bring Your Own Network (BYON). In both 2020 and 2021, enterprises were forced to get comfortable with the prospect of long-term remote working. And in part, this has included allowing employees to use personal devices and networks to stay productive. 

We expect enterprises will continue to implement bring your own network initiatives to control expenses and eliminate the risks that are inherent with staff using their own providers. Bring your own network allows remote employees to use their home networks to access their work, while allowing for broadband subsidies to be paid directly to their internet service provider, automatically.

Building on the widespread success of Bring Your Own Device solutions, BYON simplifies supporting these workforce needs and provides a seamless administration of the costs. 

Remote working is a staple across the world. BYON presents an exciting new solution for businesses looking to embrace change and maximize the potential of their remote workforce. 

4. Compliance and End-user Understanding

In the coming year, one of the biggest challenges of managing BYOD will be effectively balancing the protection and compliance of corporate data, while still ensuring effective mobility for device users. 

To address these challenges, UEM solutions can help give enterprises the visibility and control they need to stay on top of compliance demands.  All corporate data is secured via encryption, and authentication is required to access the data. This means only the right people with the right credentials can reach sensitive content.

Additionally, in 2022 and beyond, employees need to be educated on the inherent risks of new device initiatives as remote working becomes the norm. Enterprises will need to consider:

  • How will developments in emerging technology like 5G and IoT affect policies? 
  • Are the right services in place to gain visibility and control of all devices?
  • What information, guidance, and educational resources do employees have access to?

As BYOD popularity continues to surge, ensuring compliance and security of all corporate assets while not encroaching on users’ personal behaviors is going to prove challenging throughout 2022. 

Can Your Policy Keep Up with the BYOD Industry Trends?

As your organization’s mobility framework embraces the future of BYOD solutions, it's important to have the right strategy in place to ensure resilience in the face of future challenges. 

For everything you need to know about writing a comprehensive BYOD policy that works for your organization, download our guide today. 

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