Bring your own device (BYOD), while not a new concept is still a trend that isn’t fully understood when it comes to security and data protection. To get an idea of how security has an impact on this movement, Varonis Systems conducted a survey on BYOD security and, in it, said that more than half of respondents reported someone in their company lost a device with important company data on it.

The proliferation of enterprise smartphones and tablets—both corporate and personally owned—makes security a top priority for IT organizations. Professionals will show an increase in productivity when they can choose which devices to use, as opposed to being forced to use one they may or may not be comfortable with. But with this kind of response, IT managers may start to rethink how and when they will implement a BYOD program within their company, especially if corporate data is at stake.

The BYOD business model and its attractiveness to employees provides a competitive advantage over others in the industry. BYOD can help to attract and retain top performers who seek work flexibility, and often put in time outside of traditional work hours. In fact, the findings of the survey say that 86 percent of employees use their devices for work all day and night, with 44 percent doing so while they eat. 20 percent of respondents consider themselves “border-line workaholic,” and 15 percent bring their devices on vacation.

“Being connected to work around the clock appears to be accepted as the ‘new normal’,” said David Gibson, VP of Strategy at Varonis in a statement.

However, in order to successfully implement a BYOD program, companies must set forth a policy that addresses what is and what isn’t allowed and they must also monitor the effects of “always on” habits.

“Only by limiting the potential damage – both to organizations and employees - can organizations make the most of a trend that will continue to leap forward, whether businesses allow it to or not,” said Gibson.

Many organizations have decided the benefits of BYOD are worth the risks, while some organizations either haven’t embraced the concept or have decided the risks outweigh the rewards.

But all organizations contemplating BYOD should do a thorough, upfront cost/benefit analysis as well as the business benefits it can bring them. BYOD is quickly emerging as a forward-looking route to giving employees the freedom and choice they want while easing up on company financials as they relate to IT expenses.