Friday, 21 September 2018

BYOD is here (to stay)

BYOD is here (to stay) but the security pitfalls are too…

By: Samantha Geary, Marketing Executive

Bringing devices into the workplace is becoming a growing trend.

In the last decade, mobile devices such as smartphones have gone from being used in the workplace by a few, to being in almost everyone’s pockets. The growing trend toward the BYOD culture will continue to become increasingly more popular.

They offer a range of functionality for both personal and business use, so represent a powerful tool for your business.

Are mobile devices right for your business?

How can mobile devices benefit your business?

It’s more common now for work to be done on the move. This is partly because of the demands of various industries, but also because it’s quite frankly a lot easier. Gone are the days of chunky laptops, you can now have all the computing power you need in either a smartphone or tablet. So, mobile devices can really help improve the efficiency within your business.

Mobile devices can help you branch out. If your clients are situated in different locations, then it’s far more efficient for your employees to be able to write up their reports or send an email whilst they’re out on site rather than having to wait to return to the office.

It’s clear that mobile devices offer your business two main things: increased efficiency and scalability but it’s important to ask yourself the question…

Does your industry involve your employees having to be out of the office for a long period of time?

Do they visit clients often?

Do they work from home a lot?

If the answer is yes, then mobile devices can benefit your business and your productivity.

Access Anywhere!

Another thing to consider is whether your business could be improved by having quicker response times to emails and similar forms of communication. Again, if the answer is yes, then mobile devices can really help to improve your business’s efficiency.

In the 21st century there are very few businesses which wouldn’t benefit from the BYOD culture. Being able to answer emails on the go and write reports whilst travelling can help with your company’s productivity and revolutionise the way your business operates.

What type of mobile devices are out there?

Broadly speaking, there are three types of mobile devices:

– Smart phones

– Tablets

– Laptops

The boundaries between these three categories can be blurred, with some smartphones being so large that they could also be categorised as tablets, and some tablets having the same functionality as laptops.

Most businesses use smartphones to increase their efficiency and productivity. Tablets are also very common. Many tablets now come with accessories, such as external keyboards, meaning they essentially have the same functionality as laptops. Laptops are becoming less popular as tablets catch up with them in terms of portability and ease-of-use. However, laptops will still provide the benefit of extra processing power and in some cases – extra functionality.

Risks of BYOD: Security Pitfalls

Security and privacy are the main risks of bringing your own device into the workplace. What happens if your device is stolen or gets lost? As an absolute minimum you should ensure you have strong passwords to all storage devices and encrypt the data to provide another layer of security if the password is unfortunately cracked.

Devices bought into the workplace often vary in age and specification so there is always the risk that they are not secure enough. Because these devices are often used for both work and personal use the applications and websites visited could leave security vulnerabilities on devices. These devices call for rigorous antivirus and firewalls should be updated regularly.

What happens to the information on a device when an employee leaves the company? If the device contains confidential customer data, your business could be liable for a breach of data.

This blog only touches on the security risks of bringing your own device to work, there are so many more risks out there and being more aware will help you and your team members.

If you want some more information on BYOD or you’d like to find out what products and services we can over to help with portable devices security get in touch today!

Meet The Author

Name:	Sam Geary
Employment Start Date:	August 2017
Job Title:	Marketing Executive
Years in Marketing:	3

Check out Sam on Social Media:

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The post BYOD is here (to stay) appeared first on PCS.

source https://www.pcs-systems.com/byod/

Thursday, 6 September 2018

10 Reasons Why You Need an IT Service Provider

10 Reasons Why You Need An IT Service Provider

By: Samantha Geary, Marketing Executive

Businesses can choose whether to have an
in house IT department or outsource their support to a managed service provider…
Stuck on your decision?
Here are 10 reasons why outsourcing could be the best option for you…

This article gives you ten reasons why you need external IT support. We look at the benefits and the facts around outsourcing so you are left fully informed when it comes to making the business changing decision.

Focus on Your Business

Outsourcing your IT support leaves you with more time and resources to focus on other core business activity. You’re safe in the knowledge that your IT systems are protected by professionals and you won’t be required to deal with infrastructure issues or the day-to-day maintenance of your IT systems. IT can be seen as a complex science (which it isn’t) and when you experience downtime, the side effects can often consume a lot of your valuable time. Outsourcing means you don’t need to worry about planning a big system upgrade. It’s down to your IT support provider to ensure your infrastructure is up-to-date and running to your standards.

Risk Reduction

Having an external IT team means you can (if you choose to) have support available 24/7. The support will be handled by experts with years of experience in the field. This means that, if there is an issue, you can be assured that it’ll be fixed as soon as possible. This will result in reduced downtime for your business and a better process for if things do unfortunately go wrong.

Specialised Knowledge

As mentioned before, using an IT service provider means tapping into years of experience and a vast knowledge-base. To put simply – if your current IT department (if you have one) consists of a small team of three people, outsourcing your IT to a specialist company means opening your doors up to a larger team of people. This means you can get advice from your service provider if you’re looking to expand your business or if you want to upgrade your IT systems.

Keeping Up-To-Date

Similar to specialist knowledge, IT service providers will be up-to-date with the latest in tech. This means your business will have access to the latest IT solutions. This has a whole host of benefits including increased resilience for your network and increased efficiency.

A Predictable Monthly Budget

With an IT service provider, you negotiate a monthly fee for support. Any additional costs are discussed prior to the implementation of any new IT infrastructure. This means you have a far better idea of your monthly outgoings.

Detailed Documentation of Your IT Infrastructure

IT service providers will keep an inventory of your IT infrastructure, so you have a detailed map of what makes up your network. This is integral if you want to keep up-to-date. It’ll give you an idea of how old various parts of your network are and what might need upgrading. Keeping your network up-to-date is important if you want to maintain optimum efficiency, but it is also necessary if you want to reduce your vulnerability to cyber-attacks.

7. Damage Recovery

Online attacks are so common, so if you find that your business is the victim of a cyber-attack or a server crash, a managed service provider means that your systems will be back up and running as soon as possible, but also that your data will be safe. Backing up sensitive information will all be handled by your IT service provider, giving your business that bit more protection and peace of mind.
1. Highly Customisable
Using an IT service provider means giving your business access to a whole range of services to meet your needs, but it also provides a flexible solution if you want to expand or diversify. Not only can an IT service provider ensure that your network keeps up with your goals, it can also help you achieve those goals by recommending new IT solutions.

Cost Savings

With an IT service provider, you won’t have to worry about having an in-house IT department. This means you don’t have to pay wages or training. IT is a fast-moving industry, and this can mean a lot of training, so using an IT service provider removes this cost entirely. Happy days!

Cloud Solutions

Finally, using an IT service provider can help facilitate further outsourcing. Rather than having all your backups and applications hosted on a server in your office, you can have them hosted by your IT service provider in the cloud. This can help you save space in your office because you won’t need a server room, but it can also help save costs because you won’t need to pay for the servers in the first place. Cloud solutions are also incredibly resilient, again reducing risks to your business.