The proliferation of the mobile device was bound to hit the corporate environment, yet few were prepared for the changes that would need to follow the bring your own device (BYOD) momentum. Today, mobile employees are using a wide range of mobile devices to access the network and supported applications. While this activity may improve productivity, it can also increase risk.

According to a ZDNet report, 62 percent of companies will allow BYOD by the end of 2013. This momentum will generate a need for change within the enterprise and small business as an increasing number of devices outside the control of the IT department begin to access proprietary information and applications.

With clear policies in place and technology such as mobile device management applications, IT gains visibility and control of the devices accessing the network and employees are informed as to what constitutes acceptable use.

To gain a better idea of the current market trends, ZDNet and TechRepublic members were invited to participate in a survey. The results produced two surprising facts: more than 44 percent of organizations have embraced BYOD and another 18 percent plan to follow suit by the end of the year; 61 percent of companies already allowing employees to provide their own devices have had their policies in place for more than a year.

Even with this growth, there are still organizations with no plans to adopt a BYOD policy, at least not in the near future. For many of these companies, security concerns topped the list. The companies that have adopted it, however, have implemented policies to direct the allowable devices, approved applications, appropriate uses and the allowable plans when corporate is footing the bill.

In a Good Technology (News - Alert) study, findings support the projection of the rapidly growing trend. Featured in this eWeek article, the study results suggest that 55 percent of the 100 companies surveyed are supporting BYOD not just in the U.S. market, but also in multiple countries. While a number of participants in France, Germany and Japan last year expressed concern over personal privacy, data controls and monitoring, many of these concerns are being alleviated by the trend itself. 

In addition to employees bringing their own devices into the workplace, there are new technology solutions that provide IT departments with full visibility and control over these devices. Plus, more advanced solutions allow users to keep business data separate from personal data, eliminating the need to blacklist applications and limit personal use. The result is a safer device and a happier user.

While the BYOD trend continues, there will be new threats and concerns emerging on both the corporate and user sides. Fortunately, as innovation continues to emerge from key providers in this space, the available solutions to protect the network, the data and the user will ensure a seamless experience that promotes optimal efficiency.