CEO Guide to Consumer Tech at Work
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Make work feel like home. Where possible, give employees access to technology that's as robust as what they likely enjoy at home. For example, workers are less likely to turn to Gmail if they have adequate space on your corporate e-mail system and are allowed to send large attachments.
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Let ideas bubble up. When given a little freedom to try new technologies, employees might find better ways of working that can save your company time and money. One Intel employee created a collaborative online wiki that has since spread across the company as a tool for collaboration.
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Give IT a break. Even if you're going to let a wider range of consumer devices and software into your enterprise, you can't expect the IT department to support anything and everything. Create clear policies outlining which products will receive full support.
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Rethink security. Companies that let employees use consumer devices are figuring out ways to let them experiment while minimizing security risks to the corporate network. BP has moved 18,000 laptops outside the corporate firewall. Those employees connect to the corporate network via the Internet, even when they’re in the office, according to a report by consultant Douglas Neal.
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Know when less is more. Some consumer and small-business products actually work better and are more cost-effective than corporate technology. The trick is in knowing when you really need corporate-grade security or reliability and when you don’t.
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Try and stop it. Like it or not, consumer technology will make its way onto your company's network. If you ban it, employees will simply use it without telling you, creating a bigger security risk. A better strategy is to figure out why employees are driven to use unauthorized technologies and find a way to let them do so securely.
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Treat employees like children. You've likely got some tech-savvy employees who'd be willing to shoulder more responsibility for supporting and repairing their own devices in exchange for more freedom in choosing some of their own devices and services. Some companies use the International Computer Driver License test to assess employee competency with technology and figure out who's ready for this challenge.
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Skimp on storage. Employees often resort to insecure storage devices, such as iPods, USB drives, or even Gmail because they need an easier way to get access to data on the road or at home. Consider giving employees access to secure Web-based storage for documents and files.
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Forget education. Their experience with consumer technology may make your employees more tech-savvy, but it hasn't necessarily taught them how to use that technology securely. That job may be up to you.
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Using Consumer Tech for Workplace Good
Personal tech devices and services can boost your employees' productivity. Herewith, our tips for making the most of them and avoiding the pitfalls
By Rachael King
Plenty of consumer devices and services are sneaking their way into your corporate network via employee pockets, purses, and backpacks. With every iPod, USB drive, Gmail account, or Skype download, there's potential for data loss or hacker intrusion. Even seemingly innocuous devices like mobile music players can be used to covertly download gigabytes of confidential information in just minutes. But before you pour glue in every computer’s USB port to keep these threats at bay, take a moment to consider that consumer technology—if used correctly—can be exploited to boost innovation and cut technology costs at your company. Companies are piloting projects to give employees more freedom in the technology they use, along with more responsibility for helping keep the network secure. Here are some tips to accommodate your tech-savvy workers without giving away the keys to the corporate castle.
