Why Call Accounting Strategies Must be Incorporated into BYOD Policies
December 19, 2013
By Susan J. Campbell
TMCnet Contributing Editor
Mobility has overtaken the enterprise to the point that regardless of position, everyone is mobile. From the service tech in the field to the chief operating officer, everyone has a wireless connection allowing them to do their work from any location at any time.
Along with this drive toward mobility has been a shift in the way we rely on wireless devices. For a number of companies, this means adopting a corporate smartphone strategy that keeps everyone on a short leash. For a growing number of organizations, however, it means the adoption of a bring your own device (BYOD) strategy and new policies to enforce.
This is an exciting shift for mobility, but one that must be done with purpose. Companies need to deploy call accounting and telecom expense management solutions in the BYOD environment so they can maintain control over wireless spending. After all, the employee may be paying for the device, but the company is likely reimbursing for the cost of staying connected.
Call accounting solutions provider, ISI (News - Alert), recently published a blog on this topic, stressing the importance of maintaining control in an increasingly mobile environment. Companies are increasingly adopting mobile device management solutions to protect users and the network. It stands to reason that if IT wants to monitor users across the network, they would also want to monitor the costs associated with use.
BYOD does certainly introduce opportunities to reduce spending, as users can purchase any type of smartphone or tablet they wish. Plus, when employees own the device, it’s assumed that he or she is more apt to take better care of it. This translates into fewer service issues and offers the company quicker access to the technology needed to stay on the cutting edge in their chosen industry. Employees feel like they have a little more freedom in choice and can better balance work and life.
Like any other strategy, however, BYOD does have a downside. Without the right control tools and policies in place, companies can’t track and control access to corporate and private networks. This presents security issues, especially if an employee leaves a company. Without clear processes in place to wipe all corporate or client information from a device once an employee leaves, the whole strategy becomes a risk.
Wireless devices, security tools and spending controls have to mesh together into a cohesive strategy. That means putting together a strategy that incorporates all three. The company will then control spending while still providing for the needs of the workforce and the security of the network. Anything short can lead to disaster.
Edited by Blaise McNamee