Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

Page updated: 16/05/2023

BYOD allows you to access work data securely from your personal mobile device (Apple or Android). This data is accessed from a variety of Microsoft Apps, which can be downloaded from your App Store, these include Outlook (e-mail), OneDrive (data/file storage), Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and Teams/Skype (collaboration and communication).

Please note: All BYOD users are now enrolled with an additional security feature called Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). This means that we add an extra verification step to make sure that you are who you say you are! We have created a step-by-step guide to guide you through this process.

We do not offer BYOD for Windows or Mac operating systems, access from these systems is restricted to corporate devices only.

To make use of BYOD on your personal device, your line manager will have to make a request via this online form.

Please be aware that BYOD may not be suitable for all staff, and approval will be at the discretion of your Head of Service.

Full guidance will be sent to users once they have been approved, users will also have to accept the BYOD Policy and read the Terms & Conditions when registering for BYOD for the first time.

  1. iOS (Apple) devices - Please skip to step 2, Intune Company Portal App is not required for your device.

    Android devices
    - Open the Google Play Store and search for “Intune Company Portal” – Check that it is published by Microsoft, and download/install.

    Company Portal App
    Intune Company Portal App Logo

         IMPORTANT: You do NOT need to open or sign into this app, it just needs to exist on your device.

  1. Open the App Store on your device. You will now be able to download Microsoft Apps such as Outlook, Office, Teams, OneNote, OneDrive and Skype for Business. Download the Apps that you require and wait for them to fully install.
  2. For each Microsoft App you have downloaded you will be required to sign in with your Carmarthenshire e-mail address and password, when you sign in to the first App, you will be asked to read and accept the BYOD Policy and Terms & Conditions. Please note that all Apps will restart on first use whilst our security policies are applied to it.

Device Security: If you device does not have a PIN or biometric (fingerprint or face) protection on it, you will be required to set a PIN before you can use BYOD Apps.

Notifications:
If you wish to turn off notifications for any BYOD App, this can commonly be done via the settings menu for each App, for example on the Outlook App, click the settings cog and scroll down to “notifications”, from here you will be able to disable or change notifications if you do not wish to be disturbed during certain time periods.

There are a number of useful apps that you can install on your personal device once BYOD has been successfully setup, these include:

  • Microsoft Outlook - This will give you access to your work emails and calendar.
  • Microsoft OneDrive – This will give you access to all your personal files/data.
  • Microsoft Office – This app incorporates Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other useful Microsoft applications, allowing you to view and edit numerous document types.
  • Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business – Communication tools, allowing you to communicate effectively with colleagues and external users.

For further information on using these mobile apps, please see the links and downloads in the ‘Links and Downloads’ section at the bottom of this page.

Having access to these services on your own device will provide many benefits. However, in order to make the best use of BYOD the following best practice is advised:

Avoid opening the apps outside of your working hours

Checking emails and other notifications out of work time can trigger you to think about work, even if you don’t respond. Best practice is to use the app like you would a computer, switching off at the end of the day. This will benefit your wellbeing by keeping a clear line between work and life, improving your sleep and helping you to be fresh and productive for the next day.

Switch off notifications

Linked to the above, turning off your notifications means that you are less likely to click on the icon when not working. If you need to have your notifications on then switch them off at the end of the day like you would shut down your computer. Even if you don’t open the app, seeing a number of notifications indicated by the app could cause you to feel pressured.

 

Avoid sending emails or messages outside of working hours

If you remember something while sat watching TV or out for your walk it can be tempting to just fire off an email or message to get it off your mind. However, this can negatively impact other people, even if you tell them you don’t expect them to respond until work hours.

Best practice is to write it down on a piece of paper and leave with your device for the next working day. This will also prevent you getting into work-based conversations with colleagues outside of work time or getting drawn into other work. If you would prefer to draft the email, save it in drafts or delay the delivery of the email.

Advice for line managers

Please discuss with your staff the BYOD wellbeing best practice guidelines upon signing up.

Android Emails

1. Open the Outlook app on your Android mobile phone. Tap the three horizontal lines in the top let-hand corner of the screen.

2. Tap the cog icon, in the bottom left hand corner to go to Settings.

3. Under the mail section, tap ‘Notifications’.

4. On the next screen, tap the ’Notifications’ option again.

5. Tap ‘None’ from the options displayed.

Android Calendar

1. Follow steps 1 and 2 from the above email instructions.

2. This time on the below screen, tap on the ‘Notifications’ option directly under the ‘Calendar’ section. You may have to scroll down the screen to see this option.

3. Tap each of the three options (Events’, ‘All-day events’ and ‘Sound’) on the next screen, and ensure they are all set to ‘None’.

iPhone Emails

1. Open the Outlook app on your iPhone. Then tap the top left icon next to ‘Inbox’, this will either show a picture of you or just display your initials.

2. Tap the settings cog icon in the bottom left corner.

 

3. At the top, directly under ‘Email’, tap ‘Notifications’.

 

4. Under the ‘Office 365 - …’ options, tap ‘None.

iPhone Calendar

1. Follow steps 1 and 2 from the above email instructions.

2. This time on the below screen, tap on the ‘Notifications’ option directly under the ‘Calendar’ section.

3. Tap the ‘Enable Notifications’ toggle, so it is in the off position, and looks like the one in the image below.