IT departments are struggling to cope with the
groundswell of business users wanting to work
remotely.
Over half the mobile workers in a Citrix-sponsored survey feel
let down by the support they receive from their IT team and 69%
want better communication with IT staff.
Even though the work/life benefits make flexible working a
seductive idea, Citrix UK and Ireland managing director Richard
Jackson calls for better investment in the associated technology –
and the security – to make it a reality. “Employers need to invest
at the grass roots, making sure their IT team have the resources to
provide the backup that mobile workers need,” he says.
The basic security implications of mobile working are also
highlighted in a joint study by Orange and the Institute of
Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
While an overwhelming 79% of the survey respondents welcome the
productivity gains of the use of mobile data services over phones,
laptops and PDAs, many are concerned about theft. An unlucky 4% of
companies had lost 50 mobile devices in the last year.
“With 700,000 mobile phones lost in the UK last year alone,
there are fears that the adoption of smartphones – with all the
corporate data they give access to – heralds a new generation of
security threats that could put entire companies at risk,” says
Clive Richardson, director of products at Orange Business
Services.