The
pace at which technological advancements are taking place clearly
shows that the current technology will become a thing of the past
within few months of its launch in the market. Such a fast trend
shift is much prevalent in the mobile devices industry. The
technological enhancements in mobile devices are giving rise to new
opportunities for users and challenges for enterprises.
The
computational tasks which were once performed by supercomputers that
occupied larger space are now being performed by a palm-size
smartphones. These smartphones are capable of performing most
powerful tasks that we can imagine. These technological innovations
have been consistently taking place in the past and will continue in
the future. The advent of iPads and iPhones have disrupted the market
by completely changing the working style and thus the concept of BYOD
(Bring Your Own Device) evolved. The BYOD concept poses many
challenges within the enterprises.
The
much talked about Google Glass which is ready to be launched in 2014,
the recently introduced Smart-watches and many such technological
inventions which are all set to be introduced might cause further
disruptions that results in BYOD 2.0. So how enterprises are going to
deal with BYOD 2.0? Mobile Device Diversity and Management is one of
the top 10 strategic technology trends for 2014. This is a safety
measure recommended by the analyst suggesting enterprises to actively
adapt the change. Presently, companies are managing a host of devices
which includes tablets and smartphones. Additionaly, wearable gadgets
will further create more challenges for IT teams to manage a
diveristy of devices.
With
the introduction of new gadgets in the market, security concerns
holds paramount importance for enterprises. Elements such as virus
threats, device hacking and mismanagement of devices will continue
acting as a channel for data leakage. On the contrary, IT departments
cannot prevent wide array of devices in the company premises because
employees who have been using smartphones in the past will surely
remain open to the next wave of inventions and expect their employees
to allow the use of new devices for work.
So,
how to deal with the situation?
Though
there has been dynamic developments in mobile device ecosystem, the
basic principles still remain the same. Hence it becomes important
for IT departments to come up with strong policies, create awareness,
define device limitations and tweak policies to accommodate next-gen
devices. Some of the steps that can help IT teams to reduce the risks
of BYOD 2.0 are:
Set
expectations
In
order to adapt the new technology, it is better to set expectations
depending on the roles and IT requirements of the employee for using
the device. This helps organizations in quickly streamlining the
correct set of users, ensure effective productivity at work and data
security.
Policies
Policies
are crucial for companies as they define the rights and
responisibilities of the IT department and the employees, in
protecting the interest of the company and employees. In order to
come up with effective legal policy, the law team must ensure that
the policies are in sync with the local laws in maintaining right
degree of privacy levels and make sure that policies are implemented.
Educate
employees on BYOD
The
IT department should conduct educational sessions on the significance
of BYOD and how it can benefit employees. It is cricital to achieve a
mutual understanding between the IT team and the end user due to
consumerization. The IT people must create awareness about the steps
involved in BYOD lifecycle from self-registration to device
retirement.
Choosing
a right Mobile Device Management (MDM) Software
The
saying one-size-fits-all does not go well with mobile device
management as every organization has varied needs. Generally, MDM
vendors offer standard mobile device management features while some
provide advanced features that might not be suitable for few
companies. Some enterprises seek only basic MDM features while others
may look for Enterprise Mobility Management or an Integrated Desktop
and Mobile Device Management functionality – whatever is required
to fulffil the MDM demands and for data security.
Consider
following points before choosing MDM software:
- Prepare a checklist of MDM vendors who provide support for recent platforms or products
- Prepare a checklist that suits the features with your MDM requirements
- Analyze MDM vendors with respect to market presence and experience
Both
BYOD and BYOD 2.0 have their share of risks, but ignoring the
opportunities that they offer will be even a bigger stupidity. IT
teams need to be proactive in actively embracing the new innovations
and be prepared to face the risks in future.
FOMAX
is a leading global offshore software development and information
technology company, delivering consulting, systems integration, and
outsourcing solutions to clients of all verticals.To know more visit
www.fomaxtech.com
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