Cloud, BYOD Add Workplace Flexibility

Cloud computing and the trend of bring-your-own-device (BYOD) initiatives continue to work their way into today’s workplace.

Those in charge of budgets view the trend through the prism of lowering overall expenditures, while IT departments often see it as a challenge to secure their networks. Both camps are on solid ground. Creating and enforcing a set of policies enterprise-wide is the best way to keep the network secure while allowing employees to use their smartphones and tablets to stay productive.

Allowing workers access to the corporate network through their portable devices lets them stay productive, even when they’re not physically in their offices. However, portable devices, especially older Apple iPhones, can be a security hazard.

Creating and enforcing an overall policy regarding bring your own device isn’t something that occurs overnight. It takes educating the enterprise, often from the top down. A good BYOD policy isn’t a single policy, it’s a combination of education, best practices, policies, and third party solutions that will keep your network and company safe.

With employees working across so many devices from numerous locations, cloud computing is taking on a growing importance for a seamless work experience. Whatever solutions companies decide to buy, they all have to work on the range of devices people now carry. According to an article on CalgaryHerald.com, cloud computing is making business life easier by allowing users access to the same information regardless of which gadget they have logged on with.

Using email and FTP servers to share files is becoming a thing of the past. Installing programs onto your “work computer” and having to log in remotely using a VPN to gain access to your files is a thing of the past. The days of frustration for many employees and days spent troubleshooting for the IT department, are coming to an end as technology has evolved to better serve our workplace needs.

A new mobile workforce means that software and file storage must be accessible anywhere, on any device, and cannot be stuck in one static place anymore. People want to be able to access work while at the beach or the soccer field. Simply dropping a file into a centralized location using cloud storage technology offers easy access and version control with the click of a button. This also means that your IT team will be able to focus on their core competencies rather than getting bogged down by contextual issues from their fellow, less tech-savvy colleagues.

Patrick Burke is a writer and editor based in the greater New York area and occasionally blogs for Rackspace Hosting.