14 technology: byod Is the answer 'Buy the right device'


not 'Bring your own device?' Astonishing research shows more than a quarter of uk workers would like to destroy their laptop or mobile


A new type of secret saboteur is emerging in Britain’s workplace, according to research announced this month. Over one quarter of UK employees have deliberately sabotaged or been tempted to sabotage their company mobile device and 14% of workers have actually become “device destructors”, according to research commissioned by Panasonic Toughbook. Sales and marketing and IT managers are the most likely offenders in the workplace and the key reason for the abuse is the embarrassment of using an out-of- date device or frustration with their laptop or mobile.


The survey, which questioned more than 500 British employees, found that 27% of workers had or had been tempted to sabotage their work mobile devices by damaging or losing them. A key reason for the abuse stems from 38% of British employees who having “negative feelings” for their work-owned technology, with 30% stating they would rather use their own device. 9% admit they are embarrassed to use the work-owned device they have been given, 7% say the devices are difficult to use and 6% simply say they hate them.


First impressions count


When it comes to form factor, 36% of the sample were critical of the look and feel of the work-owned mobile devices they currently use, especially those aged 18-44, junior and middle managers, those in sales and marketing and IT and data management. 18% described them as being old and out of date, while 17% described them as looking dull and boring. Moreover, 11% said their work-owned mobile device was ugly and lacked style. Not surprisingly, there is a correlation between those who have either deliberately or accidentally damaged their devices, and those with a negative attitude.


“We are very surprised at the number of employees who admitted to being tempted to sabotage their work laptops and mobiles, but even more staggered by the number of people who had actually done it,” said Jan Kaempfer, marketing director of Panasonic Computer Product Solutions. “It demonstrates the depth of feeling from people when they are given generic devices for work that are simply not fit for purpose.”


Accidental damage This apathy for company property


device. The bad news for UK PLC is that when it comes to looking after them, only 8% of people look after their company property more carefully than their own device.


BYOD not the answer


In an effort to meet the desires of workers who wish to use their own personal device in the workplace, many organisations are rushing headlong into adopting a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) culture. However, Panasonic believes this is likely to be a false economy as the security and management headaches that surround BYOD have been well documented.


also seems to translate to high levels of accidental damage. In the past three years, collectively 42% of employees who use a work-owned device have had accidents with them. Nearly a quarter (23%) have dropped them or knocked them to the floor, 13% have spilled water on the device, while 5% have seen their devices immersed in water (eg in a pool, the sea, a river, sink, bath or in a puddle). 12% have suffered from screen breakage. Absentmindedness was a problem for 12% of the sample, who actually lost their work-owned mobile device.


Carefully does it


97% of the sample questioned had both a work-owned and a personal


Kaempfer concluded: “This research shows that workers, in particular younger, more tech-savvy workers, are frustrated by the devices they are being given by their employers because they are either not ‘fit for purpose’ or simply out of date with the latest functionality that Generation Y is accustomed to.


“Bring Your Own Device is not the solution. Businesses should be concentrating on 'Buying the right device'. With the increasingly wide range of business-ready, rugged tablets, laptops and mobile devices on the market, organisations should be looking to provide employees with the most appropriate device for their specific role; allowing the IT team to maintain standardised security and management across the organisation while giving the workforce the best tools for the job.”


47% of adults use personal devices for work purposes


A survey commissioned by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has shown many employers appear to have a ‘laissez faire’ attitude to allowing staff to use their personal laptop, tablet computer or smartphone for work business, which the ICO claims may be placing people’s personal information at risk.


The survey, carried out by YouGov, reveals that 47% of all UK adults now use their personal smartphone, laptop or tablet computer for work purposes. But less than three in 10 who do so are provided with guidance on how their devices should be used in this capacity, raising worrying concerns that people may not understand how to look after the personal information


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accessed and stored on these devices.


The news comes as the ICO published guidance explaining some of the risks organisations must consider when allowing personal devices to be used to process work-related personal information. The guidance explains how this approach, commonly known as ‘bring your own device’ (BYOD), can be adopted safely and in a manner that complies with the Data Protection Act.


Simon Rice, group manager (Technology), said: “The rise of smartphones and tablet devices means that many of the common daily tasks we would have previously carried out on the office computer can now be


worked on remotely. While these changes offer significant benefits to organisations, employers must have adequate controls in place to make sure this information is kept secure.


“The cost of introducing these controls can range from being relatively modest to quite significant, depending on the type of processing being considered, and might even be greater than the initial savings expected. Certainly the sum will pale into insignificance when you consider the reputational damage caused by a serious data breach. This is why organisations must act now.


“Our guidance aims to help organisations develop their own policies by highlighting the issues


they must consider. For example, does the organisation know where personal data is being stored at any one time? Do they have measures in place to keep the information accurate and up-to-date? Is there a failsafe system so that the device can be wiped remotely if lost or stolen?”


The YouGov survey shows that email is the most common work activity carried out on a personal device, accounting for 55% of people who use their personal smartphone, laptop, or tablet computer for work purposes. This was followed by 37% who used a personal device to edit work documents and 36% to store work documents. All of these activities are likely to involve the processing of personal information.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – APRIL 2013


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