Seeking the true cost of BYOD

Over the next two months, I plan to publish a report that calculates a definitive per-seat cost for the most common solutions proposed to the ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) dilemma.

The BYOD dilemma, put short, is the question of how to support a multiplicity of mobile devices in the enterprise, without exposing the organisation to undue risk.

Propelled by consumer preference for apps in the iOS and Android ecosystems, CIOs have had to consider a variety of approaches towards providing access to corporate applications on these devices.

Some have managed to more or less solve the problem over the past few years - and a few have been gracious enough to share their lessons with the rest of us via iTnews.

I have been asked to present a summary of these lessons in my role as a speaker at VMware’s 'Touch Tomorrow' End User Computing roadshow, which hits Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, Perth, Auckland and Wellington from mid-July to mid-August.

As always I approach these speaking opportunities with some trepidation - as a journalist, I’m the master of questions. What resources do I have on offer to give an audience answers? 

All I can really offer is access - access to many of the brightest managers of IT in many of Australia’s largest organisations. And collectively, you can help me provide answers for the rest of us still struggling with the BYOD dilemma. Consider it an exercise in 'citizen journalism'.

The first question I’d like to answer is the per-seat cost of the various solutions pitched to meet the BYOD challenge. Calculating those costs rely on a set of assumptions that I imagine will only be fleshed out over time as I speak with more and more CIOs, analysts and other experts.

During the course of my research and my seven roadshow presentations, I’ll keep a regular blog here on iTnews, encouraging readers to challenge my assumptions and methodology, continually refining the numbers until I’m confident we have conclusions worthy of publication in our final report.

It’s a new type of story, in some sense, as the process I’d usually undertake to seek out answers for a feature story will be transparent to all readers. I expect there will be disagreements and I’ll often be accused of getting it wrong - which I'll consider a sign of success. 

I encourage those of you seeking answers, and those of you that have solved the problem already, to register for our daily newsletter for updates, or attend 'Touch Tomorrow' to participate in-person in your city.

For now, I've made a start by posting about the three models I’ve chosen to explore, which is now online.

I’m looking forward to working with you on this story,

Brett