Who Should Own the Enterprise Handset?

Farpoint Group has historically taken the view that enterprise handsets, like all other elements of enterprise IT, should belong to the enterprise. This is based on the observation that one cannot manage what one cannot secure, and one cannot secure what one does not own. Security must be paramount in essentially every enterprise, but, let’s face it:

–       Most people want to use their personal cell phone as their only cell phone (and perhaps only phone altogether). Having to carry an additional enterprise-provided handset is in fact a burden in many cases, not a benefit. After all, the personal handset, plus accessories, travels regardless.

–       The cost of handsets to the enterprise can be enormous, in terms of both capital and operational expense.

–       There are numerous accounting and likely tax (both corporate and personal) issues associated with an enterprise-owned handset.

–       Security, to return to my primary concern, is not just about encryption, VPNs, and authentication, but also about awareness, policies, and, today, mobile device management tools that automate both procedures and the cost accounting required to enable the use of personal handsets in enterprise applications.

Besides, the use of personal handsets in business is happening whether the enterprise likes it or not. So, let’s embrace what’s become known as personal liability with respect to handsets, set up the automated accounting and reimbursement mechanisms required to cost-effectively enable enterprise use of a personal handset, put in place the additional mobile device management capabilities required, and educate and support users with respect to security, operations, acceptable use, and etc.

This is a big change in my perspective – a 180, to be sure. But, unlike in the world of politics where “flip-flopping” is frowned upon (although, perhaps strangely, something I consider a sign of intelligence), we in IT should indeed flip or flop when new technology so allows if the benefits are demonstrable – as is clearly the case here.

This is such a big topic that I’ve written a new Farpoint Group White Paper on the subject, which you can find here and other places around the Web. Many thanks to Lyrix, Inc. for a good deal of time spent discussing the many elements of personal liability, and for a briefing on their product in this space, Mobiso 6.0.

I’m convinced – personal ownership of the delivery tools at the edge of the corporate network is going to become the standard operating procedure for enterprises of all sizes going forward. In some cases, sure, restricting access to authorized devices will and should continue. But, for most organizations, the days of buying handsets (and perhaps even notebooks) are coming to an end.