The next priority for CIOs...

The technology landscape is constantly changing. In the past year we have seen an insatiable consumer demand for mobile devices such as iPads and other tablets, as well as services like cloud computing. What was previously viewed as enterprise computing has been taken up by individuals eager to stay connected. This has led to what is now being known as the ‘consumerisation’ of technology in the workplace, whereby users bring their own devices.
At a conference in London this week IDC’s research director, Nick McQuire explained how consumerisation “presents a massive opportunity” to reduce upfront costs, aid innovation and increase productivity. However consumerisation also poses a number of challenges to businesses and a headache to security staff as they battle to secure boundaries and prevent data loss.
According to research by IDC, less than a fifth of businesses are estimated to have the software and skills in place to manage personal devices. And 41 % were worried about cost, while 37 % worried about management.
So how can businesses overcome the security issues bought forward by consumerisation? Organisations need to bring security out of the shadows and adopt flexible policies which can be integrated across the organisation. However taking an over-cautious approach when it comes to IT security can also cause problems. Stifling a company in red tape to such an extent that it becomes so constrained by its IT security that it is prevented from innovating or taking advantage of new and innovative technologies will not help it gain a competitive edge. As well as the issue of data security the main problem with consumerisation is the blurring of boundaries, as staff approach work security in the same way they would approach home security. The attitude to security at home can often be more lax and this may affect the level of professionalism usually taken towards security in the workplace. The key to overcoming this is education. By educating and explaining web and email policies staff can actively take on board the risks and adapt their behaviour in the long-term. As consumerisation looks set to stay businesses need to develop an appropriate approach to security to deal with it, this will undoubtedly need to become a priority for CIOs over the coming years.

by Clear Swift