When looking back on 2012, key topics like big data, cybersecurity and cloud computing all rose to the top of all of our Google news searches. The one area that is of particular interest and will continue to dominate the government IT news cycle into 2013, is the bring your own device (BYOD) trend.
With the proliferation of personal devices – from personal smart phones to tablet and even lap tops – it was inevitable that government employees would be more apt to use these devices in the work setting. In addition, the freedom to work from multiple devices provides a level of flexibility that can aid overall productivity.
Though one big elephant was in the room this year when it came to BYOD and that was security. With many government employees dealing with sensitive or even classified data, agency CIOs grappled with how to best balance providing flexibility for employees with security.
There is certainly reason to have security be top-of-mind when it comes to BYOD efforts. According to the recent Security Threat Report 2013 by Sophos, sophisticated malware authors increased their sustained mobile attacks during 2012, and will continue to do so in 2013.
In addition to taking security considerations into account when implementing BYOD strategies, agencies are now faced with the challenge of figuring out how this new frontier can help them support mission goals.
As we head into 2013, one thing is clear: mobile solutions will continue to proliferate. When both security and a clear business strategy regarding BYOD are fully aligned, having government employees use their personal devices at work will be a no-brainer.