With the rise of personal web devices, a growing number of companies have scrapped the homogeneity mandate: instead of requiring employees to use a standard smartphone, more IT departments are now looking at some degree of control over employee-owned (or "employee-liable") devices, to manage and secure them. 

Best practices include "segmenting users into work styles by mobility and application requirements, and matching up device choices." Another key: adopting of a mobile device management platform or service to help manage the use, configuration and security of these devices.

The approach needs to be systematic and comprehensive. Crucial elements are: general device and application management; security features to ensure policies are in place, enforced and up-to-date; and alerting and reporting on unauthorized access.

Whatever the details, the overall process boils down to a regimented and policy-driven approach that recognizes that smartphones and other mobile devices need equal treatment because they've become equally important with other IT assets.

Nothing technologically prevents this. Instead, the real issues are cultural. There has to be recognition by the individual [employee] that an e-mail is corporate intellectual property. And if you're looking at more than e-mail, then the company has every right to secure that information.

A growing number of companies are formulating written mobile policies and requiring employees to read, understand and sign them before they have access to e-mail and other data from their device. Many companies require certain application for either the iPhone or Android which can be controlled by the company to secure both communication and information transfer.

Right now the big question surrounds legal issues -- agreements between employees and employer -- and placing company-owned agent on an employee's handset.

It's the start of whole new relationship between mobile device users, in dual roles as individual consumer and employee, and the company for which they work.

For more information about protecting your business with network security, contact Drake Hardware and Software at 319.752.1155