As corporations find new uses for mobile computing platforms, it is important to remember lessons learned years ago when personal computers were first being issued as productivity aides. Providing guidance on what to do and not to do with the loaned equipment was a necessary step, do not turn off the anti-virus software, do use a strong password, be careful what you put into an email and who you send it to, and so forth.The analog to authorized use is unauthorized use, corporate council can provide information on any liability associated with employee inappropriate use of a system owned by a firm and used primarily for business purposes. Review of the entire guideline by corporate counsel is a good idea.Firms should give serious thought to any sensitive information to be involved in authorized use, the security of apps is an open issue and the risks to sensitive data should be carefully considered. The whole issue of configuration management of mobile devices is wide open, as apps are inexpensive and easily available, employees provided with a device for one purpose may consider the device to be personal property and use it as such.Abuse of capabilities is also wide open, as use is in such an early stage of evolution, monitoring use is an important issue to gain understanding of typical user behavior and changes in that behavior. For example, social networks present challenges and opportunities that are not necessarily well understood and should be expected to change with unpredictable consequences. It wasn’t that long ago that Instant Messenger raised concerns for the security Team, Twitter is a whole new world of ulcer generating concerns.Financial apps that enable mobile banking and brokerage services present capabilities that have to generate real concerns, the lack of authentication and the resulting anonymous user creates a world without accountability, surely not a good thing.Another early lesson worth remembering was that issuing a tome and expecting employees to heed it is a very naive expectation, the guideline should be brief and easy to understand, anything more needs other approaches to training and awareness.As mobile computing creates an exciting new world with fantastic potential, there is a temptation to reject “the old ways of doing things”, as great as that temptation may be avoiding it is essential. Lessons learned through previous hard knocks should be revisited and applied to this new paradigm.
The Attraction of Laptops and Mobile Computing
Laptop computers are one of the hottest items in the computer market. It seems that many either have one or are clamoring to get one. Mobile computing is definitely a must have in the world we live in, with everyone always on the run and wireless technology has made this possible, as well as, of course so many other gadgets and electronics more functional.Laptops come in so many varieties with many features. In fact, there are laptops for gamers, business, students, regular home use, each with its own distinct features and functions. There are also specially made rugged laptops, that the military uses, and some self defined klutzes at home that are built to withstand tons of abuse. It is no wonder that that laptops are so popular what can be better than checking email, working or chatting online while sitting at a beach, at the park, in bed, or anywhere else in the world without the confinement of a plug. Laptops are also technologically advanced computers capable of any and all functions of a pc or Mac computer except in a smaller size making them compact, mobile and wireless.Pink laptops are something of another phenomenon in mobile computing. Pink laptops are very poplar items among women shoppers, as the color pink is a high fashion item and laptops have not been excluded from this. Pink laptops allow you to make a unique and fun fashion statement and still provide the many mobile computing options of laptops, including, sending email, work, browse the Internet, message friends, compose word documents and any other computer activities from anywhere on the planet, including the beach, mountains, by a pool, while on vacation, on an airplane, etc.There are several manufacturers of pink laptops, including, Sony, Dell, Acer and Samsung. These come in different pinks, from light to almost neon, and there is one to suit any pink color lover. There is also the option of covering any laptop with a pink cover, however, for most it is not as cool as actually having the shiny covering of the laptop in pink.The retail prices of laptops are quite high, often even more so than a desktop set up. The Internet is a great place to find deals on laptops, with sites such as eBay, Amazon and other online merchants who house many sellers and merchants that compete for the large volume of business and significantly cut retail prices. Refurbished laptops are also a great alternative for those who want a feature packed machine without the high price.