Technology Consumerization

Post based on my conversation with Zoe Sands, Head of Digital Marketing at Juniper Networks.

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting with Cesare Garlati, Vice President, Mobile Security at Trend Micro. It was an enlightening and informative meeting; he is a security veteran with vast experience in mobility, his chosen specialism – I learnt a great deal from meeting him. Our conversation started around the Consumerisation of IT, as it is now driving a new level of challenge across the enterprise, and how, rather than thinking of this trend as a mobility issue, it’s being thought of as an innovation – the lead being taken by consumer brands rather than traditional IT vendors. This is an interesting perspective. As IT professionals there is value in being receptive to non-traditional competing factors. Cesare stressed that we have to have the mindset that “consumerisation is not just mobile, it is all encompassing”, and that’s where the topic currently lies with IT. Over the past two years there has been much interest in the ’Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) topic, but it’s important to remember this is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Consumerisation of IT. So, when will we see a more holistic approach taken for consumerisation of IT? After my meeting with Cesare I think 2013 will be the real turning point. Here are some of the predictions we spoke about in during our meeting:

1. The past two years has seen a big rise in the adoption of BYOD. This is not going to go away; there will be more BYOD and more usage within the enterprise. According to the iPass Q4 2012 Mobile Workforce Report BYOD is at 46% penetration and expected to reach more than 50% of the workforce in 2013. Organisations need to be prepared for more non-corporate devices accessing their networks.
2. More organisations will realise that mobile device management (MDM) a traditional approach to securing corporate networks won’t work in the future, it is not a security fix rather than a patch on your network. The new approach will be holistically managing data and thus protecting intellectual property and assets.
3. Corporate liability versus personal privacy will be discussed extensively during 2013. With more and more cases being taken against organisations because individuals’ and third parties’ data has been exposed. Organisations will need to weigh up the risk of privacy beaches against productivity gained as a result of consumerisation of IT.
4. The odds dictate that there will be a major security case during 2013 due to consumer mobile technology in the enterprise. Mobile security and mobile malware will become mainstream themes.
5. IT departments will need to reinvent themselves. Rather than being seen as the traditional gate keepers of the corporate network, a move towards providing IT consultancy and services for the business units will be imperative.

What do you think of the above Consumerisation of IT trends? Do you agree? Do you see other potential issues arising in 2013? I would love to hear your thoughts on this, so please post your comments below.