Mobile Workforce Report 2010 Review: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4
Scott McDonald, CTO at FCI, a leading manufacturer of connectors
Demographics play a key role in the issuance of the devices as the cumulative costs of providing data plans can quickly escalate. Mobile devices are normally restricted to more senior level roles or at minimum, a demonstrated need role. The majority of the younger workforce has not advanced to roles that have a clearly demonstrated or a defined need (at least not in our industry). The younger generation of workers (majority) also does not have the level of responsibility that would normally require them to be “available” after hours for work more detailed than a quick email reference. More senior level employees, regardless of age, are married to their laptop. (I see that changing with hybrid devices)
If you dig into what many of our employees are using their laptop devices for in the course of their duties, the requirements are actually very low. I could anticipate an adoption rate of at least 50 percent of our senior level staff immediately if properly introduced. Probably 75 percent of all travel is for 2-3 days and during this period their laptop is being used as an extension of their smartphone to provide the ergonomic benefits of a full “system”. They could as easily live with a tablet/iPad device that is lightweight, always-on/connected and accessory free.
Personal devices and risk is not normally something I am concerned with in our specific deployment. We have implemented an approved device policy with only devices paid for and approved by the company being allowed to “access” the email system. Additionally we have a number of security layers in place including a 15 minute timeout, PIN unlock and 5 times wrongly entered PIN device wipe. We have never had a case of a smartphone device becoming a security risk. They of course have been lost, but are quickly wiped. (Unfortunately the downside is employees will occasionally forget their PIN and wipe their device.) This same method would be applied to a tablet/iPad so it would actually be an improvement over laptops which are still at greater risk as there are no wipe capabilities.
Mobile Workforce Report 2010 Review: Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4
