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Mobile Devices and Users
Working with technology outside the office brings many challenges. Use of laptops has grown from limited user communities to widespread desktop replacement and broad deployment. The complexity of managing these devices outside the walls of the office is something IT departments have learned to address. Remote connection has extended from fixed location dial-in to wireless on the move, and smart handheld devices such as PDAs have become networked, converging with mobile phones. This larger and more diverse community of mobile users and their devices increases the demands on the IT function which has to secure the device, data and connection to the network, keeping control of corporate assets, while at the same time supporting mobile user productivity.
Key Findings

  • Experience reduces overall anxiety, but heightens awareness of specific needs
    Security fears although still significant, gently decrease with greater experience, and those with broad wireless laptop experience placed less emphasis on this aspect for the deployment of smart handhelds. However experience of smart handheld deployment boosted the numbers seeing the need for increased provision of user support and training.
  • For laptop security, people are the weakest link
    Anti-virus software, secured VPN access and personal firewalls are deployed by over two thirds of IT professionals, but those with broad wireless experience regard loss, damage or unauthorised use as the major concerns, and these depend on the care taken by users and well communicated security policies.
  • Wireless connectivity does little to increase the burden of managing laptops
    The cost and complexity of device management is seen as an issue by around half of IT professionals. However the level of challenge perceived to affect security, device management and user support is unaffected by broader experience of wireless laptop deployment.
  • Laptop experience changes the view of starting a smart handheld pilot
    The key concerns for starting a smart handheld pilot are security and cost of devices, but these lessen for those with broad wireless laptop experience. However the concern over choosing the most appropriate device rises with experience and users cite further concerns over interoperability and compatibility.
  • There is naivety and/or neglect in smart handheld security
    While plenty of emphasis is placed on security, a worrying number of IT departments do not enforce security for smart handhelds as well as for laptops or they leave it in the hands of users. This is more prevalent in those with limited or unofficial smart handheld activity, but even among those with broad experience, almost a third do not treat smart handheld security as seriously as laptops.
  • Rules rather than technology keeps smart handhelds usage in check
    Businesses with existing experience of smart handhelds favoured a policy of controlled deployment, with almost two thirds providing a limited choice of devices, and only one third using a technology solution based on continuous synchronisation. However broad experience increases the use of other automated solutions, such as centralised software management and remote device deactivation.

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