Transformation of an enterprise is not something that comes easily. Change of any kind can be difficult for individuals, so it's no wonder that making changes to an organization that includes hundreds or thousands of individuals would be a tough thing to pull off.
One of the trends that is making waves across companies is BYOx in which employees make their own decisions regarding the equipment and services they make use of within the corporate environment. Typically we think of smart phones, tablets, and other portable personal devices, but there is an increasing use of personally controlled networks simply because they have become part of the devices staff members carry with them.
We asked Carla Fitzgerald, CMO with Smith Micro Software for her thoughts regarding the BYON (Network) trend and how to best manage this growing trend. Fitzgerald offered her observations.
"Addressing BYOD challenges has become a main concern for enterprise CIOs. However, with the widespread availability of Wi-Fi hotspots and proliferation of new connected devices, the conversation over the next two years will expand to include BYON (Bring Your Own Network)." BYON has its own challenges that many organizations haven't even considered, much less resolved. The growing number of devices per employee is causing a significant increase in the consumption of mobile data. Additionally, most employees don’t know or care what mobile networks their devices are connecting to at work and on the go, which can cause an organization’s data costs to skyrocket.
For the CIO, this creates new headaches in managing network access and performance, controlling costs and securing corporate data. "For example, employees on the go are connecting based on convenience, which is not always the most secure or cost effective network. The coffeehouse Wi-Fi may be vulnerable to phishing, enabling hackers to access the company's network through the unsuspecting road warrior’s device. Alternatively, employees using a mobile device within corporate walls may remain on a 3G/4G network rather than switching over to the corporate Wi-Fi network, driving up data costs unnecessarily. Further, employee smartphones are now easily turned into hotspots themselves, and without proper management can be another data drain as friends and family nearby stream movies through these unprotected hotspots.
"By extending mobility strategies to address BYON issues using policy-based management, CIOs can ensure that employee devices are connected to the most cost-effective and secure network at all times."
Carla Fitzgerald is the Chief Marketing Officer for Smith Micro Software, providing wireless and mobility solutions for network operators, device OEMs, enterprises and public sector. Previously she has worked in search advertising, enterprise software and wireless industries for startups and industry giants.
