Is a Mobile Device Policy Needed for Manufacturers & Distributors?

Is-a-Mobile-Device-Policy-Needed-for-Los-Angeles-Investment-AdvisorsSimply put – a mobile device policy, once written and properly implemented, is critical to ward off a slew of potential problems as tablets and smartphones blanket the computing landscape. Los Angeles distributors have different policies they can choose from, such as Consumerization, BYOD, or MDM, End User.

Acceptable Use policies are used to state what employees may and may not do with a company-issued mobile device, ensuring that the data remains secure and protected.

This article explores common mobile devices policies and the purpose of each.

Consumerization Policy

A Consumerization policy itemizes and explains approved practices for the use of consumer technologies and devices when accessing the investment firm’s information systems and data. Contents include the extent of admin control over the devices, the scope and nature of IT support, and what expenses the firm will cover (for example, “paying for personal calls will be the responsibility of the employee”).

BYOD Policy

BYOD policies clarify the level of support a firm’s IT department will offer for employee-owned mobile devices. Also known as bring your own technology (BYOT) policies, these documents cover important areas such as data security and protection and whether or not the company will give employees an allowance to buy and maintain their own devices.

Acceptable Use Policy

Acceptable Use Policies contain conditions that users must agree to if they want to access the Internet or a network using a mobile device. Typically, employees have to agree to refrain from using their connection to commit illegal acts, send spam messages, or compromise the security of other computer systems and devices.

End User Policy

An End User Policy is an umbrella document containing any directives that apply to end users. They can include social networking policies, mobile security policies, BYOD policies, and more. Employees must agree to all terms in the document, and any violations can result in consequences up to, and including, termination.

Corporate Mobility Policy

Corporate Mobility policies are intended to protect the company as well as any related data from outside interception or surveillance and ensure that the company complies with regulatory guidelines. It defines how both stored and transmitted data will be protected, such as encryption and secure connectivity that blocks unauthorized devices from the network.

Bottom Line

Every Los Angeles manufacturer or distributor's mobile device policy will be different, as one company's solution rarely fits another’s. But there are key issues that each company needs to take into account when writing and implementing these policies - such as which apps may or may not be used on a personal device, how employees should protect their devices, and what steps are to be taken when an employee loses their device or takes a job elsewhere.

 

Does your company have a mobile device policy? How does it apply to employee-owned devices in particular? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments box below.

 

And to follow-through on the tips introduced in this short article, be sure to download your free guide, How COOs at Los Angeles Distributors and Manufacturers Get More Done.

 

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Author

Craig Pollack

Craig Pollack

Craig is the Founder & CEO of FPA Technology Services, Inc. Craig provides the strategy and direction for FPA, ensuring its clients, business owners, and key decision makers leverage technology as efficiently and effectively as possible. With over 30 years of experience building the preeminent IT Service Provider in the Southern California area, Craig is one of the area’s leading authorities on how small to mid-sized businesses can best leverage and secure their technology to achieve their business objectives.

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