Bangalore: The data is clear: Today's workers often need more than locked-down corporate PCs and are spending an average of $1,253 annually of their own money on computers to do their jobs, according to a recent Forrester survey of more than 5,000 technology end users across the US and Europe. Yet the same survey reveals that only 12% of firms encourage those who do so, with the rest actively discouraging it — and some even penalizing employees. The mismatch between employee needs and IT's position is obvious, but few organizations are adequately prepared to change course.

In a new report, Analyst David K. Johnson argues that I&O stagnation is fueling bring-your-own-computer (BYOC) demand within the workforce. More specifically, employees are turning to their own tech because:

1. Windows XP is 11 years old — yet it's still in use on more than 50% of corporate desktops and laptops.

2. Most tools and practices currently used for endpoint management and security were developed in the early 2000s.

3. Locked-down PCs lock out new sources of productivity.

4. Gorilla-sized agents hog resources and impact productivity.