Cloud Source

Digital Transformation Is Creating a XaaS Mindset

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Digital transformation is changing the way enterprises make business decisions. Outsourcing used to be relegated to functions like payroll and cleaning services, but the advance of cloud technology has allowed for the consideration of a wider variety of possibilities. Companies are embracing the Everything as a Service (XaaS) mindset, and it’s not just for technology decisions like data storage and software platforms. Across business and consumer culture, XaaS is becoming a way of life.

Botmetric predicts that XaaS will grow 40 percent by 2020 as a global market, and companies that are slow to adopt a digital transformation plan may be left behind. There are benefits that come from cloud technology that will provide a game-changing edge on the competition, forcing some companies into obscurity as others make rapid gains.

Mobile access: Remote access to systems is becoming more important, with companies capitalizing on the ability to hire talent without regard to geography. The remote workforce is growing, and even employees that work on-site appreciate the ability to access information anytime and from anywhere, whether from a lunch meeting or a business trip.

Small companies access innovative technology: Smaller companies are no longer at a disadvantage when it comes to technology because cloud software is sold by subscription. There’s no big investment in hardware or IT support, giving small and mid-size businesses access to the same tools that big corporations can implement, democratizing the business world.

Change is constant: It’s nearly impossible for legacy, on-site systems to keep up with the improvements in speed and efficiency that tech companies produce on an almost daily basis. Digital transformation allows companies to always have the latest tools available, without disruptive updates or investment in new systems.

Cost effectiveness: Not only are companies able to escape the heavy initial investment of on-premise systems when they use a cloud solution, but they also eliminate the need for ongoing management and the headaches that come with updates or implementation. Digital transformation also results in productivity and efficiency improvements that significantly impact the bottom line.

Alternatives can be easily vetted: When a company considers a transition to another on-site system, they can only guess how the solution will work with their processes. With cloud solutions, companies can easily test-drive new software options; if one doesn’t work, it’s easy to pivot to a different solution.

Are you embarking on a digital transformation process? Cloud Source partners with you through each step of your cloud transition, helping you identify the best potential vendors and sticking with you through each implementation step. Call us today to learn more.

 

Implementing a Successful BYOD Program: Challenges and Solutions

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BYODPersonal devices have become ubiquitous, with the majority of the population having at least one device that can access the internet. Many businesses are taking advantage of this to implement bring your own device (BYOD) policies, allowing their employees to work — in-house or remotely — with their own devices. This can mean a reduction in IT costs and CapEx, while also ensuring that employees are always able to be contacted. However, there are a number of security risks that come with a BYOD program, including:

  • Data loss
  • Malware
  • Unauthorized access
  • Unsafe applications

Data Loss

Loss of data is the biggest priority for businesses with a BYOD program, according to 72% of respondents to Crowd Research Partners’ BYOD & Mobile Security 2016 Spotlight Report. Many companies deal with sensitive data for their clients, making this a top priority for IT departments. It is imperative that the IT department take personal devices into account and work to keep them as secure as possible.

Malware

A single infected device can compromise a business’s entire network, if given the access. Any device registered to a BYOD program should be kept up to date with its firewall, OS, and antivirus. The best way for a business to ensure this is to have policies and procedures in place that all employees are trained on and expected to adhere to. It is also important to have a VPN standing between the device and the network itself, to protect the network by ensuring that all transmitted data is secure and encrypted.

Unauthorized Access

The benefit of employees using their own devices is that they always have access to the network — but the drawback is that they always have access to the network. This means that if a device is lost or stolen, whoever has it next will also be able to connect to the network. PINs or passwords can help keep unauthorized users out, and devices should be registered with the IT department so they can be flagged as soon as they go missing.

Unsafe Applications

There are thousands of apps available for download, not all of which are from legitimate distributors. Like malware, apps can cause serious security breaches, especially in more vulnerable devices like mobile phones and tablets. A strong policy in place will help keep employees from downloading harmful apps, and businesses can also use virtual routing and forwarding (VRF) and virtual switching instance (VSI) environments to separate trusted traffic from untrusted.

Educated employees are the best defense against an unsuccessful BYOD program. Businesses should also monitor network activity and use guardian programs that can intelligently adapt to possible threats. This will ensure that the program is a success and allow the business the flexibility that BYOD can bring.

The Mobile Workplace: Benefits, Issues, and Solutions

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Mobile WorkforceTechnology is everywhere, bringing with it a shift towards the mobile. According to Cisco’s Visual Networking Index, by 2020 more people will be using mobile than use desktops. Businesses can take advantage of this by leveraging the use of mobile devices to improve and increase productivity and flexibility.

Ways to Use Mobile

Mobile allows great flexibility in the workplace, including through the use of:

  • Bring your own device (BYOD) policies
  • Cloud-based telephony
  • Cloud networks
  • Mobile apps, both in-house and from outside sources

The Benefits of a Mobile Workplace

Any business interested in making the move to a more mobile workforce needs to know how this shift will benefit the organization. The biggest benefit is flexibility, which leads to an increase in productivity. Employees using mobile devices, especially their own, have the flexibility to connect to the network and complete their work no matter where they are, whether that’s at the office, at home, or out meeting with clients.

Mobile also benefits clients and other outside partners who can use their own devices to access the business’s network. Visitors to the office can also hotdesk rather than having to be set up to use their own station, improving their efficiency during their visit.

Possible Issues

Security is the biggest issue facing businesses looking to move to a mobile workplace. While a BYOD policy improves productivity, it also means that the business can’t ensure that all devices are set to the same security measures and standards. If a network isn’t safeguarded properly, cybercriminals can take advantage of outdated OSes to gain access.

Fortunately, there are two major strategies to maintain a mobile workplace without sacrificing security: replacing BYOD with a company-owned, personally-enabled (COPE) policy, or ensuring that employees receive proper training to keep their devices updated and secure.

Using COPE

Using COPE instead of BYOD means the business has more control over the devices employees use. While these devices are owned by the company, they are also enabled for the employee to use as a personal device, which allows for standardization and the ability for the business to remotely wipe the device. However, there is a small drawback in that the business will also need to ensure they purchase a device for each mobile employee.

Using BYOD

For companies who choose to go with BYOD, the first step is always research and planning. The three major aspects to consider are:

  • Cloud hosting: Allowing employees to access the network through a single portal
  • Customer continuity: Allowing customers to contact employees no matter where they are through the use of call routing capabilities
  • Network capacity: Ensuring that the network can handle increased traffic without dropping the connection

A mobile workplace can bring great benefits to a business that puts the research into it and ensures support for employees while maintaining security of the network. As mobile and the cloud become more ubiquitous, businesses will need to consider their mobile options in order to increase productivity and remain competitive.

BYOD in Government Agencies: Clear Policies Protect Critical Data

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Bring your own device (BYOD) has the benefit of allowing businesses to cut costs on providing devices to employees, but it also creates a number of security issues. This is an especially important factor to consider for government agencies, which often handle very sensitive data but may not have a focused, detailed policy for employees to follow. Employees aren’t necessarily creating security holes on purpose, but agencies should still have a firm policy in place — or make the decision not to allow employees to bring their own devices at all.

Implementing a BYOD Program

If the decision is made to implement a BYOD program, there are a few basics to keep in mind:

  • Create clear policies that outline exactly how employees are allowed to use their devices for work-related data like email and documents
  • Only allow approved application stores, and ensure that employees know they cannot root or jailbreak their devices
  • Use software that allows for work data to be kept separate from personal data and ensures the work data can be easily removed

BYOD and Security

Both potential security problems and their solutions must be spelled out clearly in a BYOD policy. This is especially important for government agencies that need to strike a balance between keeping data safe and avoiding infringement on employee rights. This can involve:

  • Containerization
  • Connection via a secure third party
  • Lockout codes
  • Ensuring employees are up to date with security patches

Agencies should also keep in mind what sort of data they handle, including personal data like SSNs and data critical for infrastructure such as power grids. If the data is too sensitive, or could cause massive problems if it leaked, then it may not make sense to implement a BYOD policy at all.

Deciding Against a BYOD Policy

Even if the agency decides against allowing employees to bring their own devices, the agency should still ensure that all employees are aware of the restriction. Clarity is key to helping protect sensitive data; employees may not mean any harm by using their personal cell phone to check their email or look at a document, but the chance of a security breach is lessened if they know that they’re not allowed to do so.

Mobility is an ever-growing and ever-changing field. In order to keep up with the evolution of BYOD, agencies and businesses should be aware of where their sensitive data is and what it’s being used for. A policy that outlines exactly what is and isn’t allowed will keep all devices, whether personal or business, safe and secure.

BYOD: Improving Security by Educating End Users

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With the explosion in affordable mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, personal laptops, and even smartwatches, many businesses have or are in the process of implementing a bring your own device (BYOD) policy. Software company Code 42 reveals in their 2016 Datastrophe Study that 67% of IT decision makers and 87% of CIOs and CISOs believe that they have a clear and comprehensive policy.

However, end users do not share that belief: 67% of employees find their BYOD policy is unclear. This divide between IT professionals and end users can have consequences within the organization, especially when it comes to security.

The Increase in Employee Endpoint Devices

In the past, employees used a single device, usually one that is stationary and connected to their organization’s IT-maintained firewall. Now, however, many employees use multiple mobile devices: 26% have a minimum of two devices from their employer, and 5% have five or more.

This means that businesses need a clear, concise BYOD policy that all employees must adhere to in order to maintain a level of security. According to the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology, unsecure mobile devices are especially susceptible to ransomware. Backup and recovery solutions will help with this, but a clear BYOD policy will help stop problems at the endpoint — before they happen.

Working with Employees

The convenience of BYOD is one of its biggest selling points, but it also means that the devices are not under the full control of IT professionals. IT professionals need to work with employees, which means not only training them to consider security alongside flexibility, but also taking into account the habits and needs of their end users. Monitoring and tracking employee behavior will help IT understand what apps are being accessed, how safe they are, and whether or not they should be allowed within the company environment. A clear policy will also help employees understand what personal data they can mix with their business data.

Education and Communication

Uneducated employees often have bad habits that can harm a business’s security, but because they haven’t had the proper training, they don’t know that these habits can compromise their devices. Education and open communication is key to changing bad habits and improving security at all levels. At the same time, IT professionals need to be flexible so that they can adapt to ever-changing technology and the working environment.

Although it may seem like a lot of work, especially for an already established business with multiple employees, a clear BYOD policy will ensure better security and less confusion. Educating and communicating with employees will reduce the risk of ransomware at the end point and help eradicate bad habits, without sacrificing flexibility.

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