There are few people who don't know that modern workers are carrying a lot of electronic devices for voice and data communication. That phenomenon forces firms to deal with how all these gadgets fit into these businesses. And for many firms, such as Red Bank, N.J.-based"Many employees are more comfortable using their own device. If they are more comfortable with their own devices, chances are they will provide better client service," according to partner Jim Bourke, who addressed the recent New Jersey Accounting, Business and Technology Show. In his wide-ranging session on technology trends - Internet Security/Bring Your Own Device to Work/Cloud Technology – Bourke emphasized the importance of BYOD.
Employers can either buy handheld and mobile devices for their employees. Or firms can embrace a formal BYOD policy to provide workers with access to company resources such as email, file servers, and databases. BYOD is something some firms embrace and others recoil from. But Burke noted that his firm, which has about 200 employees under its BYOD plan and that practice is spreading.
"That is about half of the employees and BYOD was mandatory for all staff below partner beginning July 2013. So it is only a matter of time before all our staff are off legacy plans and on BYOD," Bourke said. At WithumSmith, employees use their own devices and submit requests for $50-per-month reimbursement on their monthly expense reports. Bourke said the practice is well worth the cost. "Firms can easily cut in half its annual wireless communication cost," he added.
Bourke said, for example, a firm hires a 22-year-old, Jack. He supplies his own iPhone and knows how to use it. Compare that with the firm paying a new iPhone and plan. A couple months go by and that phone just sits in a draw untouched because the employee is more comfortable using his own device. "If your employees are more comfortable using their own devices, encourage it. It's easy to push all the firm's information to their devices," explained Bourke.
For firms considering BYOD, a mobile device management tool is a must. These enable firms to segregate personal from business data, remote-wipe specific data, prevent harmful attachments from being transmitted and more. WithumSmith uses the MDM tool, AirWatch and if a device is lost or stolen, the tool can be used to wipe from that device remotely.
Bourke also told his audience members need to stay abreast of technology developments.
"Firms need to stay current on technology and make sure their employees are comfortable using it," Bourke said. He provided the following as areas in which firms must stay current:
Train your employees in security principles: Establish basic security practices and policies for employees, such as internet use guidelines and the penalties for violating company cybersecurity policies.
Create a mobile device action plan: Mobile devices create significant security and management challenges. Don't forget to require passwords, install security apps and set reporting procedures for lost or stolen equipment.
Secure Wi-Fi networks: Make sure your network is secure, encrypted, and hidden. Set up your wireless access point and router so it does not broadcast the network name.
Create a Cyber Security Plan: There is no reason not to do it. Especially when it is free at www.fcc.gov/cyberplanner.
