Managing the iPad-Only Executive
Posted on Thu, Dec 01, 2011 @ 10:29 AM
Using my iPad as my only computing device for the past eight months has been possible thanks to security and access processes that MCPc has in place.
The following are considerations from Ira Grossman, vice president of personal systems at MCPc, to help set up your organization to enable iPad-only executives and employees. --Darin Haines, Group President, Advanced Technology Group
Set Up for Security
iPads and other mobile devices brought in to your workforce give employees ownership, familiarity and mobility—allowing work to become something you do, not somewhere you go. However, when a new device enters your environment, it can also pose potential threats to the environment’s security.
Having an airtight onboarding process for new and employee-owned mobile devices gives organizations control. Before allowing mobile devices to connect to any corporate systems, we recommend that employees understand and agree to mobile device management policies and practices.
Opting devices in to mobile device management software is another way to make sure that users are securely connecting to your networks. For example, AirWatch allows us to track where all corporate iPads are, access remote wipe functionality if needed, push down profiles, restrict applications and more. It’s a multi-faceted process that protects both the iPads or employee-owned devices, and our company’s infrastructure and intellectual property.
Manage the Personal & Professional Device
One of the reasons Darin—and employees like him—love the iPad is because it unites his personal and professional lives. He can use it to video conference with customers across the ocean, then turn around and use it to check in on what’s happening at home via FaceTime. It houses his personal and professional travel plans, checklists, documents, photos and more.
This brings us to an IT manager’s dilemma: employee-owned devices come with personal files and data.
To balance the different types of information on iPads and other devices, sandbox or segment user data into personal and professional accounts that live on the same device. For secure storage and access to professional documents, messages, and our internal CRM applications or systems, our employees use Citrix Receiver.
A key benefit of this approach is that when an employee leaves the company or when his or her device may be at risk, you can remotely wipe all business-related materials from his or her device without removing personal data. The mechanics of this functionality will vary based on platform used, but some are able to selectively wipe devices in a matter of seconds.
Related Resources
With more executives bringing their own devices to the workplace, mobile device management is a hot topic among our customers and readers. Following are a few additional resources you may find helpful when planning your organization’s mobile device management strategy:
Final Thoughts
Enabling your employees to use their own devices in the workplace—whether iPads, tablets or mobile phones—can help increase productivity and ultimately make work something you do, not a place you go.
Have processes in place so you can securely onboard, monitor, manage and remove necessary devices from your network, and make sure your organization has helpful applications that make being an iPad-only executive possible for your workforce.
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Ira Grossman, VP, Personal Systems Group, has more than 15 years of technology project management experience and is an expert in lifecycle management and mobile device management for the enterprise. Connect with Ira on LinkedIn.
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image credit: Robert S. Donovan