Cloud computing secure for personal IT devices at work

The managed services and cloud computing provider makes the point that, with smartphones, tablet computers and non-PC notebooks now everyday items, there is a growing reluctance among employees to use outdated IT systems in the workplace. This has led some firms to allow authorised staff to use their own IT devices – causing problems for IT managers, says Neil Cross, managing director of Advanced 365. "As tech savvy office workers seek to use the latest mobile IT devices in preference to using aging company PCs and laptops, network security concerns are inevitably resurfacing," states Cross. "It is essential that organisations ensure that their employees have authentication, identity verification and security applications installed on their IT devices before allowing them to access their corporate network," he advises. For him, developments in cloud computing technology are now providing an opportunity to address security fears without losing control, even if IT managers can't directly control the device being used. "Cloud services, such as Microsoft's Office 365 [currently in beta testing], allow users to access their company network and applications, such as email, over a secure Internet connection. Alternatively, organisations can opt for a more integrated approach, by utilising applications such as VDI, Citrix or online portals, like Microsoft SharePoint, to deliver their business applications via a secure controlled environment." Cross explains that, by choosing a suitable cloud platform, organisations can protect their data and be sure that only secure devices are capable of accessing their network. "Moving to the cloud also allows organisations to address the challenge of meeting the rising demand from employees to access the latest devices without compromising the security of their network, thus ensuring the best of both worlds," he says. "While cloud computing technology can reduce the pressure that IT teams are under to maintain hardware, and potentially reduce costs, working with a trusted partner that has the breadth of skills to understand these new and more complex environments is now more important than ever," concludes Cross.