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Companies worldwide continue to struggle with device ownership and management. In an age when a job can’t be done without a smartphone or tablet, and with employees who continually demand the next big thing, many businesses are still unsure how to best handle technology. Many have bowed to the pressure and jumped on the bring your own device (BYOD) bandwagon, where workers purchase their device of choice, pick their own plan and then receive a stipend to cover some of the costs. Though BYOD may make sense initially – most expect wireless expenses to be reduced and controlled easily – the scenario can run amok. Big issues can include employee termination, security, privacy, and support. Instead of making it easier, BYOD can increase workload for IT departments as they attempt to support multiple platforms, devices, and apps. Functionality can be compromised by employees looking to make a buck by purchasing the cheapest phone on unreliable networks. So when traditional corporate liability – when the business purchases the phone and expects it to be used for professional purposes only – and BYOD don’t pan out, what is there left to do? Enter corporate-owned, personally enabled or COPE for short. It’s the latest trend in enterprise mobility, one that seems to be keeping both management and employees happy. Its popularity stems from the fact it offers the best of both worlds. COPE allows for a business to purchase and own a device, but gives workers the freedom to use the device for their own purposes. It means the flexibility for an employee to surf Facebook, but also for IT to wipe a stolen or lost device without any resistance. Employee choice is still paramount in COPE, since many companies offer employees a selection of devices that comply with budget and security guidelines. Instead of having to find a way to secure professional functions on a personal device in a BYOD environment, administrators can partition a fully managed device for personal uses. Overall, it is easier for a company to manage a device under COPE because it has full control and can configure the device for security and app management before it even lands in the hands of an employee. Cost is another obvious benefit. BYOD often hurts the bottom line – a personally owned device is typically contracted to a retail plan. COPE allows for businesses to cash in on the substantial discounts enjoyed under corporate plans, a move that can trim operating expenses. Phillipe Winthrop, Vice President of Corporate Strategy at VeliQ, is credited with coining the term COPE. He notes that no matter what the scenario, a well executed wireless policy is a must. Winthrop sees COPE as a functional compromise. “You get all the benefits behind BYOD but retain ownership from a legal perspective,” he explains. “COPE is more about lightening the grip just a little bit, just enough so you’re not choking your workforce.” For companies considering which way to go, COPE is the happy medium offering employees the sleek gadgets they desire and administrators the control needed to be secure and successful.
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Business, Technology, BYOD, COPE,
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