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Should HR introduce smartphone policies?

Posted on May 11th, 2012 Read time: 1 minutes

It's unavoidable – smartphones are everywhere. People are now using their mobile devices to chat with friends, check email, surf the web, play games – and even occasionally call someone.

With this technological shift, it's no wonder that a growing number of chief information officers have become more lenient with their companies' cellphone policies, even allowing workers to access their corporate networks, a recent poll from Robert Half Technology showed.

Specifically, 49 percent of respondents said employees could access their company networks using smartphone devices. This "Bring Your Own Device" concept is becoming increasingly necessary as more employees are beginning to work remotely.

"Firms are striving to balance employees' wish to use their preferred devices with the possible security risks and logistical challenges, such as offering support for these non-standard gadgets," said Lara Dodo, a regional vice-president of Robert Half Technology.

The poll results raise the question of security – is it necessary for HR administration to insert smartphone regulations into company policy?

According to ComputerWeekly, some required measures that should be included in smartphone policies include password protection, data encryption, remote lock and data wipe and, at the very least, basic malware protection for every device.
 

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