Workplace IT: ENISA sees opportunities and risks in “Bring Your Own Device” trend
The developing trend of people using their own computers, phones, social networks or smart devices and applications for work offers benefits, but also brings risks. That’s the message from the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA) in its latest report, Consumerisation of IT: Top Risks and Opportunities. 

    
In today’s high-pressure work environment, mobility and networked knowledge are two key factors shaping the future of professional life. These factors, combined with the consumerisation of all kinds of IT components, make it imperative to consider the role of private IT in corporate IT strategies. The “Bring Your Own Device” option, where staff use their personal computers to perform tasks in the workplace or elsewhere, can bring a wide range of potential benefits. Among the opportunities presented by this consumerisation of IT are:

employer and staff flexibility on hours and work locations
savings through lower infrastructure costs
increased productivity and staff satisfaction through developing their own skills
 lower infrastructure costs from moving to flexible IT solutions, such as cloud computing


But with the potential benefits come risks, which must be foreseen, with proper policies and mitigation strategies. Among the top risks are:

confidential information being lost, stolen or made public, whether through poor IT security on personal devices, or through the theft of mobile devices or computers
potential issues over data ownership, unauthorized sharing, and legal governance over devices, programs and content
increased opportunities for cyber-criminals to target corporate data

 
Overall, ENISA identifies three main areas of risk, relating to: cost, legal and regulatory issues, and data confidentiality/integrity/availability. Potential benefits fall into the areas of finance, human resources, operational opportunities and data management.
Commenting on the report, ENISA’s Executive Director, Professor Udo Helmbrecht, said: “In today’s workplace, mobility and consumerisation of IT is often a great opportunity for staff and employers to reap the benefits offered by modern IT:  increased flexibly and potential reduction of costs. Some of the security risks involved are relatively classic, such as failing to ensure that devices and applications are secure, and sharing information inappropriately. Others, such as legal questions, are more complex, but if properly addressed, will allow for more effective working regimes and tools.”

The full report is available here.

For interviews: Ulf Bergström, Spokesman, ENISA, Mobile: +30 6948 460 143, or Louis Marinos, opsec@enisa.europa.eu


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