Flexible working and the consumerisation of IT

Overview

Mobile and remote working has been relatively widespread for at least a decade. But a growing requirement for flexibility has driven the consumerisation of IT - workers using their own mobile devices and sometimes software to access corporate data and applications.

This puts tremendous pressure on traditional organisations that have kept a tight rein over their corporate IT infrastructure. IT departments have arrived at a fork in the road. They can lock down the infrastructure and prevent access by unauthorised devices and services for the sake of security. But they risk alienating a new generation of knowledge workers and stifling productivity. Or they can embrace the new flexible ways of working, welcome all-comers and cope as best they can with a more laissez-faire infrastructure. But they run the risk of data loss or breach of privacy.