BYOD policy brings in the SMB talent

Research from Nasstar reveals firms with a comprehensive bring-your-own strategy are viewed as flexible and attractive to new recruits

Employees are more attracted to firms that allow staff to bring their own device (BYOD), according to research by cloud computing specialist Nasstar.

Nasstar questioned 300 of its SMB customers to find out what boosts staff morale and attracts people to a new company.

According to the findings, three quarters of respondents said that allowing staff to use their own smartphone, laptop or tablet in the workplace would position their firm as a "flexible and attractive" employer.

In addition, 64 per cent of SMB chiefs already allow staff to use their own devices, with 64 per cent saying they had written policies in place for staff wishing to do so.

Furthermore, 58 per cent of respondents felt that letting employees use their own devices at work led to increased output and better workplace efficiency, as well as happier staff.

A further 60 per cent felt they had saved money on IT training and hardware by letting staff use their own devices, and finally 70 per cent felt that with the rise of tablets and smartphones, it was inevitable that in the future all staff would demand to use their own devices alongside those provided by their employer.

Charles Black, chief executive of Nasstar, said: “There is a growing demand by today’s plugged-in workforce to use their own devices at work. While some employers have a blanket ban on this, it is clear that most in our survey realise they look more attractive if they allow it, at least in some form. The fears expressed by some employers are also not based on the current cloud technologies. Security is one of the main drivers of cloud adoption and should not be a fear.”