In a recent article on mobile device management (MDM), CIO magazine makes the intriguing and pointed observation that “the mobile enterprise is the BYOD enterprise,” which may be the reason many businesses have been slow to implement comprehensive mobile device management policies. Unfortunately, a lack of such policies is unrealistic and fails to take into account the fact that employees are probably already bringing in their mobile devices, and using them, at work. The presence of such devices already brings possibilities, as well as security risks.
What Is Your Business Mobile Device Management Policy?
What is your policy on mobile device use in the workplace? Are your employees provided with company devices – and only allowed to use those devices while on the clock? Perhaps you allow limited use of mobile devices at the workplace, so long as they are not connected to the business network. Be aware, that even such limited access can provide security risks, for example from employees using their cell phones to take screenshots or record conversations. Especially in light of ongoing security breaches, now is the time to be proactive.
What Should Your Policy Be?
Mobile device management refers to a number of software products currently on the market, which manage risk caused by the reality that people carry and use a variety of mobile devices. Mobile device management also includes an understanding on the part of employers that security and accessibility are reasons for concern – and the reason for possibility as well. Consider a policy of mobile device management which allows your workers’ maximum productivity, including the use of mobile devices for business functions, while minimizing your security risks.
Implementing Change
Change is hard, as they often say, but change can be good. When introducing a new mobile device management plan, or improving on the one you have in place, make sure to cultivate input from all levels of your organization. This way, you can better ensure acceptance and compliance, and maximize productivity by taking into account all the legitimate uses people have for mobile devices in your place of business.
Mobile device management means moving beyond acceptance, into the realm of actively utilizing mobile devices, with all the possibilities they can bring.
Making educated technology decisions defines business success in today’s competitive world. For larger companies, one wrong move can equal millions in lost productivity, hardware failure, and potential security breaches. For smaller businesses and start-up companies, technology guesswork is the fine line between closing the doors and establishing a creative edge in the market.
WheelHouse Solutions can provide the mobile expertise that your business needs. We have extensive experience planning and implementing complicated projects in a business environment. We’ll ensure that your project is managed effectively, analyzing and defining your needs and then creating a scope of work, including project goals and milestones. We’re experts at working with third-party vendors, to ensure that your projects are implemented flawlessly, on time and under budget. Click here or call us today at 314-492-2506 for a free consultation.