Santa's gifts pose new headaches for IT directors

Christmas is coming, a time of festivities and joy but also historically a time of concern for most IT directors who wait to hear, with some apprehension, what new technology Santa has delivered to their fee earners.

We regularly expect the early January email or visit from a partner, excitedly flaunting the latest iPad, mobile phone or other Apple-inspired gadget as we wait for the inevitable question: “Can I connect this up to the firm’s IT systems?” While this has been an issue for years, one wonders how much longer this will be a concern as the market becomes more consumer-led.

The consumerisation of technology is a hot topic and many businesses are investing in ‘bring your own device’ (BYOD) technology, which allows staff to securely connect their mobile devices to the firm’s IT systems.

This approach will allow firms to manage fee earners’ personal devices, rather than enforcing a corporate standard such as a BlackBerry, which often results in an employee carrying two devices: his own chosen handset and the device enforced by the business.

One of the key issues with BYOD is security. Personal devices will have access to emails, client contact information and other potentially sensitive or personal information that must be secured according to the seventh principle of the UK’s Data Protection Act.

Changes to the Act in April 2010 allow the Information Commissioner’s Office to impose fines of up to £500,000 as well as publicly naming businesses that have shown a reckless disregard for securing data.

No business will want to be in this position, so the ability to manage and secure devices through a centrally managed enterprise-class system is crucial. As the owner of an iPad or tablet, are you happy for your IT team to manage and secure your personal device?

The technical concerns are one aspect to consider. The other, arguably more significant aspect, is the end-user’s expectations, which must adapt. Rather than the IT team supplying a fully-functional BlackBerry, you must now visit your local mobile phone shop and choose your preferred device on an appropriate data and voice contract. Are you happy to accept that email and other work-related tasks will consume your chosen data package?

Additionally, with so many different handsets being used throughout the firm, it becomes impossible for the IT team to support the huge variety of devices, so handset problems will need to be resolved by you, perhaps with the assistance of your telecom provider’s helpdesk.

I have listed only a few of the issues that should be considered when connecting non-corporate devices to your business systems. None of them are insurmountable, but when you take your new Christmas gift to your IT director and ask that question, don’t be surprised when he pauses for a few seconds to consider his answer.