18% Yes
82% No
The Big Question is an initiative between Computer
Weekly and recruitment consultancy PSD. Each week we put the Big
Question to top IT professionals to get their take on a current
talking point.
More than four out of five IT professionals polled never link
personal gadgets to the network, despite the growing availability
of mobile consumer electronics and storage media.
Although there are security risks, this number is expected to
rise, with the emergence of a new generation of staff for whom
using such technology is an ingrained part of their everyday
life.
Peter Thompsett was one IT manager who said he did link personal
equipment to the corporate network. "This includes my phone and
Blackberry. But this is only because I am senior and need that
level of access," he said.
Thompsett said he would not "under any circumstances let other
employees at any level do this, since there is too much risk
involved".
Colin Evermore of Lan Technics said that, as a director, he
connected his Blackberry to the network. "I need regular contact
with the office, but this is strictly under the watchful eye of our
IT department. I would not expect anybody else to need this
facility or to connect mobile devices to the network."
Most IT professionals answered a resolute "no" to the question
of connecting gadgets to the network.
"I have no need to connect any personal gadgets to my work
computer. I cannot imagine wanting that level of connection between
my work and home life, and my company wouldn't want it either, for
security reasons," said one.
Working with the iPod generation
Working to a different tune
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