Company Owned, Personally Enabled (COPE)

Company Owned, Personally Enabled (COPE) describes a model in which companies provide mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, or laptops that can be used by employees for both work and personal purposes. These devices remain the property of the company but allow for controlled personal use.

In the COPE model, the IT department manages the devices using a mobile device management (MDM) solution or similar tools. This technology ensures that company data remains protected while also allowing employees to use the devices for private purposes. Professional and personal data are strictly separated, for example through container solutions or dual persona approaches, ensuring that professional information remains secure while privately stored content is unaffected.

A major advantage of COPE is that companies retain complete control over their devices. Security policies can be enforced centrally, and sensitive data is protected from unauthorized access. At the same time, employees benefit from being able to use a modern and powerful device in their private lives without the need to carry an additional personal device.

COPE is particularly suitable for companies with high security requirements, such as those in the healthcare sector, the financial industry, or government organizations. However, it is also ideal for companies that seek to offer their employees maximum flexibility, for example by integrating apps or services that support both work and private purposes.

The combination of corporate security and employee flexibility makes COPE an attractive alternative to models such as BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Companies benefit from a clear separation between professional and private use, while simultaneously promoting modern working methods and improving employee motivation.