34 . Glasgow Business September/October 2012
TOP FIVE IT TRENDS
The onward march of technology is constantly shaking up the IT strategies of not only big corporates, but also SMEs. Here are the top five trends of today…
BRING YOUR OWN DEVICE 1
With the rise of smartphones, tablets and ultra-portable laptops, many employees are now choosing to bring their own
(often more powerful) kit into the workplace. In many ways, this is a great deal for employers,
who can reap the productivity benefits of the latest technology without having to actually go out and buy it. It also means that workers are often connected to their workplace out-of-hours, through email and business cloud services. But there are hidden costs: unless it is properly managed, workers’ own devices can dangerously blur the boundaries of the corporate network, creating weak links through which sensitive or valuable data can escape. Alison Bryce, Head of the IP & technology team
at law firm Maclay Murray & Spens, explained that businesses cannot simply dodge responsibility for devices they do not own. “A lot of time is spent locking down business computers and other devices from a security point of view; work that can be undermined by allowing unsecured devices into that environment,” she said. “IT departments must ensure any employee
devices are properly integrated with the company’s systems, in terms of accessing and using data, to protect that data from unauthorised use in the form of security breaches. “This may mean subjecting employees’ devices to
the full range of security measures, including strong password protection, encryption and the ability to remotely delete data (or be cloud-enabled to prevent loss of data).” Bryce also warns angry customers are far from
the only consequence facing businesses who ignore this risk. “Data security is a fundamental principal of the UK data protection regime. [Businesses] must take appropriate measures to prevent unauthorised use of personal data, including accidental loss or destruction, or damage,” she explained. “The Information Commissioner’s Office has
powers to issue enforcement, assessment and information notices, and fines of up to £500,000 for data protection breaches. Criminal prosecution can also result from some breaches. In the event of personal data falling into the wrong hands, the penalties could be severe, and the reputational repercussions significant.”
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