Crossing the Rubicon: Personal Devices at Work
Did the proliferation of personal devices in the workplace sneak up on you? You’re not alone. Many IT people say yes or say they were surprised by the speed at which personal devices popped up at work. Others say they were aware of it but their efforts at damage control are hindered by company policies that aren’t comprehensive when it comes to this topic.
Many companies are scrambling to figure out the financial, legal and security considerations as they decide what to do. You might feel like Caesar as he approached the Rubicon.
The “point of no return” decision by Caesar to cross the Rubicon was the first step on his journey to victory in a civil war. Present day, this expression generally refers to taking a course of action from which there's no turning back. Talk about apropos.
On one side we have employers, who are expected to reimburse employees for using devices that are security risks, and on the other side, employees who resist complying with security measures. In a recent Computer Business Review article, a British networking company has suggested this approach:
• Only block access to offensive or illegal content. Blocking Facebook, Twitter and such like will only result in a disgruntled mob.
• Be secure.
• You won't beat them, so join them. Social networking sites can be used to build bridges with employees
• Be clear on the rules and enforce them. Policies are only useful if people know and respect them.
• Encourage innovation. If employees are showing enthusiasm for mobile devices and social networks, try to harness it.
Easier said than done? Is there a one-size-fits-all answer? Well, you can’t ask Caesar, but you can ask Marc Beattie of Wainhouse Research. He provides advice to IT managers in an upcoming webinar sponsored by ACT Conferencing on August 25, 2011: Collaboration & Social Media: How to Tame User Anarchy.