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Secure enterprise mobility solutions specialist Good Technologies launched two service offerings–BYOD Policy Construction and Transition Services– designed to help businesses transition to a bring your own device mobile infrastructure and establish appropriate BYOD policies. The Policy Construction approach provides a structured framework to provide industry and peer data, as well as best practices, to inform policy decisions, while Transition Services provide businesses with a consultant to forecast the number of devices that need to be provisioned and launch demand-generation programs.
In addition, the policy framework is designed to drive consensus within an inter-disciplinary team, including representation from human resources, finance, legal, security, regulatory compliance, purchasing, global privacy, and employee communications, complete a BYOD Policy Statement and End-User Agreement that is ready for executive ratification and adoption and tailor an individual BYOD policy to the organization’s culture, workforce, and risk management profile. The service also helps balance the security interests of the employer with the employees’ concerns around privacy.
On the transitioning side, Good helps map out the steps required for an efficient BYOD rollout, as well as define and recommend process and infrastructure improvements where they are needed. The company will also oversee implementation of the initiative, track server and software performance as well as end-user support issues, train program participants, structure a communication plan regarding the timing of the transition, and finally perform a readiness review to ensure the company is prepared for the leap to personal mobile devices in the workplace.
“We talk with a lot of customers who have been thinking about implementing a BYOD program but don’t know where to start, or how to finish and roll out. Others had been planning for a three-year transition, but are now challenged to potentially implement a BYOD program and migrate all mobile employees in just six months,” Allen Spence, vice president of worldwide professional services at Good Technology, said in a prepared statement. “When you’re dealing with global customers like ours, who are converting thousands of employees to new technologies, it can be a daunting project, and extremely resource intensive. Our BYOD services provide our existing and new customers with expertise and the frameworks to roll out successful BYOD programs.”
The launch comes as organizations of all sizes are eyeing BYOD programs as a way to improve employee mobility and productivity, while IT departments face the challenges inherent with a migration to new technology. Adding to the complexity of implementation are various security, compatibility and other logistical concerns. A May survey IT analytics firm Forrester Research, found 72 percent of North American and 60 percent of European information workers already pay for all or part of their monthly data plans simply to have the freedom to use their personal device at work.
“Today’s ‘consumerization of IT’ pressures-where employees are demanding access to corporate data on their personal devices -creates new challenges for IT,” a Good Technology press statement said. “Structured BYOD programs are a way to leverage consumer mobile device and application innovation to enhance employee productivity, while keeping enterprise data secure.”