Bring your own device

Bring your own device (BYOD /ˌbiː waɪ oʊ ˈdiː/^[1])—also called bring your own technology (BYOT), bring your own phone (BYOP), and bring your own personal computer (BYOPC)—refers to being allowed to use one's personally owned device, rather than being required to use an officially provided device.

There are two major contexts in which this term is used. One is in the mobile phone industry, where it refers to carriers allowing customers to activate their existing phone (or other cellular device) on the network, rather than being forced to buy a new device from the carrier.^[2][3][4]

The other, and the main focus of this article, is in the workplace, where it refers to a policy of permitting employees to bring personally owned devices (laptops, tablets, smartphones, etc.) to work, and to use those devices to access privileged company information and applications.^[5] This phenomenon is commonly referred to as IT consumerization.^[6]

BYOD is making significant inroads in the business world, with about 80% of employees in high-growth markets such as Brazil and Russia and 50% in developed markets already using their own technology at work.^[7] Surveys have indicated that businesses are unable to stop employees from bringing personal devices into the workplace.^[8] Research is divided on benefits. One survey shows around 95% of employees stating they use at least one personal device for work.