When Personal iPods Become Business Tools...
from the ...-IT-execs-freak-out dept
The idea that people are bringing personal technology and gadgets into the workplace isn't new. In fact, we were just talking about how some companies are completely changing their sales strategy to focus on those consumer buyers who will help technology "trickle up" into the organization. However, the pace at which it's happening is increasing and it's clearly freaking out a lot of IT professionals who don't know how to deal with supporting personal technology. Most companies don't have any policy to handle non-supported technology, which often leads to Dilbert-esque situations, where IT turns its head the other way until there's a problem -- and then gets upset with anyone who has non-supported gear. According to the article, some companies are even making everyone drop off all non-work-issued technology at the front door when they get to work. This is something of a backwards approach. If people are bringing these technologies into work (mobile phones, pagers, laptops, even iPods -- which are apparently being used in 29% of companies) there's a reason they're doing so. Rather than denying that those reasons could exist, companies need to look at ways to better handle the fact that this technology is trickling up from the workforce rather than the other way around. Yes, there are some valid security fears, but many of them can be handled from the technology-side with better methods for making sure any device on a network complies with the rules of the network. Still, a big challenge over the next few years is going to be for IT departments to figure out ways to embrace and learn from how individual employees are making use of personal technology in the office.
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Two Different Things
Those companies you mentioned were focusing on the second point, not the first. Also, it wasn't just "some companies" that were requiring users to check their devices, but banks, where a more secure policy doesn't seem unreasonable.
As I run a Pocket PC Web site, I'm a big supporter of portable technology. I would hate for a company to prohibit me from bringing my PDA or cell phone in (whether it had a camera or not).
However, I can also recognize that there are legitimate security concerns at work, but I support multiple layers of security. For example, most companies could probably prohibit connecting personal devices to the company's systems (unless you have authorization to do so) instead of prohibiting the devices at work completely. Some places -- defense contractors, R&D facilities, financial institutions, etc. -- may have stricter guidelines.
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Another non-issue fear-mongered by idiots
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We're repeating history. Deal with it!
We've already had this IT battle twice. IT always loses. They shouldn't waste their breath:
(1) Personal computers are just toys. Don't bring them into the workplace. Take my Mainframe, please!
(2) Personal computers in the workplace have to be approved-issue only. Here's the 286PC laundry list you're allowed to have. Nobody needs the power of a 386...
- The Precision Blogger
http://precision-blogging.blogspot.com
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Luddites?
While they certainly have their place, what real need is there for an iPod in most businesses? I know they can hold contacts and be used as a massive portable hard drive, but how many people are really using them like that in a business environment? A PDA is much better for managing contacts and how many people have real business needs for taking 20-60 GB of data with them?
The policies you're advocating seem more restrictive than banning mobile technology. Locking down workstations so that only IT people can install software or transfer data to other devices isn't much different from IT people prohibiting different hardware from connecting to those boxes.
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Re: Luddites?
Mostly agree with ya: that "tough!" statement to which you replied really doesn't wash in the Real World, and so many hacker-doods forget that they have to adjust their thinking when they move out of their parents' basement.
As to your 'why' point, though, I'm thinking that a 20-60Gb unit can be muy useful for installing server, if the tech would get there. Yes, I know, we should all be installing via PXE booting now, but as an example, our IT dept can't really figure out why DHCP shouldn't be standardized and delivered from the part of our WAN with the most suits and the least reliable frame links.
I'm thinking that people will be more apt - since Moz can't get roaming out because there's too much of a backlog on themes to publish - to start keeping their mozilla prefs and profile dir, for instance, on that thing, especially if it can attach and detach easily. Most of the guys in the office to which I'm attached (I telecommute 5000km) also work from home, and all appreciate the Huge Floppy nature of the device in a sneaker-net set-up.
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