Good thing my iPad isn't a BYOD tool. Or is it? Yesterday, my iPad broke. Well, actually, some critical work apps hung up waiting to download updates, but what’s the difference? Apple’s miracle tablet was useless for work (which is why I’m writing this post on an old ThinkPad). I spent a couple of hours trying to troubleshoot this problem and found an Apple support thread entitled “trouble downloading apps after iOS 6 update.” I wasn’t alone. All sorts of workarounds appeared on the thread, from pushing the time ahead a couple of years to logging in and out of your Apple account to resetting the network settings and rebooting. I tried them all. I tried combinations. I tried to think happy thoughts. And I hoped it would just start working again. Millions of iPads and many more iPhones have become critical work tools that fall under newly crafted policies called BYOD, or bring-your-own-device. For the most part, these policies require the employee to take care of their devices. “It’s your expense to buy them, as well as the 3G-4G [data plan], and to maintain them,” says Ingram Micro CIO Mario Leone, describing his BYOD iPad policy. So what happens when a bunch of iPads suddenly stop working? Surely, my iPad problems stem from the iOS 6 update. Yes, I was one of the giant herd updating to iOS 6 in the first 24 hours of its availability. In that time period, iOS 6 landed on more than 15 percent of Apple devices, according to data analytics firm, Chitika. Many CIOs point to security as being the biggest threat to BYOD, while others see mobile security as a bugaboo for consumer devices in the enterprise. Nay, the biggest threat comes from Apple itself. Now I’m just a writer with a ThinkPad backup plan. My downed iPad is headshaking, not backbreaking. But it doesn’t take a fortune teller to see the looming business consequences of iPads and iPhones suddenly unusable overnight. As for me, I’m planning to call the nearest Apple store for an appointment at the Genius bar to get my iPad fixed. I’ll probably make that call next week. The store will be a madhouse today because it’s the first day of iPhone 5 availability. Can your business people be without a critical work tool for a week? Related content opinion Google Bigwig Eric Schmidt Posts Bizarre Guide for 'Converting to Android from iPhone' Google's Executive Chairman wants you to switch from iPhone to Android, and he posted a strange guide to help make the transition as smooth as possible. By Al Sacco Dec 09, 2013 2 mins Smartphones Android Operating Systems opinion Apple's 'Spaceship' Campus Evokes Jobs-Era Perfectionism Some facts have emerged about Apple's planned "spaceship" campus. Delayed and over-budget but painstakingly detailed, it's already part of Apple history, and makes CIO.com's Tom Kaneshige nostalgic for Steve Jobs' maniac By Tom Kaneshige Apr 05, 2013 3 mins Financial Services Industry Innovation IT Leadership opinion Apple, Where Art Thou? Apple is under siege and uncharacteristically running for cover amidst mounting competition and research reports favoring Android. By Tom Kaneshige Mar 12, 2013 2 mins Smartphones Tablets IT Leadership opinion Is Computer's Future a Glass House? According to Google and Corning, glass surfaces and eyeglasses are where we'll do our computing in the future. By Tom Kaneshige Mar 06, 2013 1 min Small and Medium Business Innovation Mobile Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe