COPE vs. BYOD vs. CYOD – How Should an Enterprise Choose?

Featured article by By Mitch Black, President, MOBI

Recently, there has been a great deal of debate in the world of mobile devices and how they function in the enterprise. There’s BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) vs. COPE (Corporate Owned, Personally Enabled), and now even CYOD (Choose Your Own Device). Today’s CIOs and enterprise leaders around the globe are faced with making the decision regarding which method best suits their business, and they must consider the hurdles that are to be expected during implementation.

As a managed mobility services (MMS) provider, meeting the unique needs of each customer is priority number one; however, before deciding which program style to implement, it is paramount to weigh the pros and cons of each approach, in addition to outlining a plan that will work best for the business and the industry or vertical at play.

So, what’s the difference? To provide a clear picture, let’s break it down.

BYOD programs allow employees to use any device at work. This might prove optimal for some companies as it reduces the amount of responsibility that’s placed on the business surrounding procurement, device upgrades and overall support. Based on the growing consumerization of mobility in the workplace, this has become the most popular option. But with global business being the new imperative, BYOD programs can pose significant obstacles when it comes to managing the international data and voice needs of the end user.

Consequently, BYOD programs can burden companies since security and visibility into the way devices are being used is not readily apparent. If BYOD is chosen as the winning contender, mobile device management (MDM) software is highly recommended in order to create a level of security around the usage, access to information and policies of utilizing the device. Contrary to popular belief, this can be taxing on internal IT teams, as much time and energy are needed to manage BYOD programs internally.

Ultimately, the decision can end up costing companies significant time and money. Many enterprises that deploy BYOD as the whole (or a part of) their mobility strategy rely on a managed mobility service (MMS) provider to help them enroll users, answer the influx of mobility help desk questions and manage mobility stipends.

How is CYOD different?

Companies can compile a list of approved devices that will meet the needs of the employee and the company. A CYOD option is a very culture-centric approach to the mobile environment of the business. Devices can be pre-configured with all the necessary applications for employee productivity and protecting sensitive data that might be present on or accessed by a mobile device.

Businesses that choose the CYOD approach are responsible for all invoice management and device selection. This still creates a huge need for, at the very least, MDM. MDM software can be preloaded, phones can be preconfigured and procurement processes can be outlined; however, the ownership of all the aforementioned areas can still be a challenging feat to tackle. To gain maximum insight and efficiencies, MMS providers can help support, maintain and optimize any mobile environment.

Now, let’s take a look at COPE.

It can seem difficult to decipher the differences between a CYOD and COPE device, but it can be summed up rather easily:

COPE programs allow employees to choose the device and their plan, while receiving a potential discount on the device or plan due to the company optimizing benefits with various carriers. For example, a new software developer can bring his own device and choose a plan that will best meet his needs based on his responsibilities. He is offered a discount since the company has control of the carrier. The company essentially owns the device, but the end user has control over the plan and payments.

As is often the case with COPE, the software developer might not know how much work is being done behind the scenes to manage a COPE program. Typically, a stipend program must be utilized to ensure that the end user is reimbursed for all (or a portion) of the program costs, and a lot (if not all) of the responsibility of managing the program is done internally.

So, then, which is the right program to choose? The answer is that there is no one perfect answer. A majority of clients will find themselves needing a combination of the three to most efficiently manage their mobile environments. Cost, security needs and work functionalities can vary drastically based on the end user’s role within a company, and mobility is not a one-size-fits-all environment. Maintaining flexibility to meet the needs of employees, providing the support for a robust mobility environment, and having insight into usage and billing is often difficult for enterprises to achieve without the expertise of an MMS provider.

Application of a method that continues to strive for optimal usage, utilization based on work function and overall cost is the goal. Through intentional tracking and visibility, enterprises will create an effective program that enables true mobile lifestyle management for the mobility environment, even as it evolves and grows.

Mitch Black was born and raised in rural Indiana with no inclination that his professional life would be driven by the fast-paced global wireless industry. He has spent over next 20 years in executive positions with leading companies such as BrightPoint, Brightstar, PCS Wireless, and Verizon Wireless. As President of MOBI, Mitch leads the company’s go-to-market strategy, organization, and provides valuable support for overall growth and operations. When he is not helping enterprise clients solve problems related to their complex mobility environments, he enjoys spending time with his wife and four children. He also enjoys supporting some of the Indianapolis areas non-profit organizations and currently serves on the board at Jameson Camp.​