The world has turned digital and phones and computers are now an integral aspect of any business. Any business coach or business consultant will emphasize the necessity for a company and its employees to be digitally connected. But how effective is it really?

Peer advisory groups and CEO groups are leading the charge in prompting businesses to be more accountable for their digital connection and communications and, in doing so, are increasing the effectiveness and security of day-to-day business operations. And it all starts with phones and computers that are being used for work purposes.

Many employees use their personal phones and computers for work purposes. They access and send emails remotely, they update calendars and they even use chat apps to talk to colleagues and stakeholders. Personal phones and business have been shown not to mix well for numerous reasons. Here’s a look at some of them…

Personal Phones Are Vulnerable to Hacking

Personal phones are personally managed which means it is up to the user to install anti-virus software and security measures (most don’t bother). Hackers often take advantage of security flaws and connect to a personal phone containing sensitive information like intellectual property, giving them access to company emails, chat conversations and even financial data.

Human Error

People make mistakes, it’s human nature. There are few people on a global scale who can’t lay claim to losing or breaking their phone or laptop at some point. The thing with missing phones and laptops that are used for business purposes is, the company data can go missing with it. If this sensitive information falls into the wrong hands, or even if a phone is being repaired by an illicit hacker, it could be detrimental to the company.

Reliability

Not all employees are ever equal, and not all employees use their phone for the same purposes. Some may use their phone solely for personal reasons and just have their work email installed, while others may have the latest secure and robust models. Don’t forget, some may not even be able to take photos or have a phone at all, so you can’t always rely on them to provide their own devices.

Work Flow

Inconsistency in digital tools in an organization not only compromises consistency, in some circumstances when the phones don’t sync, it can stop key messages from being received. This not only restricts resources, it also confuses processes, frustrates employees and can throw projects off task.

Employee Trust

Every organization is riddled with intellectual property and many don’t consider to take into account that each employee who has access to it has it sitting in their pocket, hiding in their phone. When an employee leaves an organization or even gets frustrated with them, they can use this intellectual property against the company. They may take it to a competitor or they may use the contacts for personal uses; either way, a company’s intellectual property is best kept safely and securely within the company.

The most efficient companies have streamlined their processes by providing their employees with company-issued phones and computers. This way, all intellectual property can be tracked, the employee can protect the data with the latest company-issued antivirus software, and the chances of an employee using the devices for illicit reasons are minimized.

Information may be abridged and therefore incomplete. This document/information does not constitute, and should not be considered a substitute for, legal or financial advice. Each financial situation is different, the advice provided is intended to be general. Please contact your financial or legal advisors for information specific to your situation.