CISCO Gold partner Digicel Business says it is helping to create more flexible and efficient workplaces through ‘Bring Your Own Device’ (BYOD) technologies that are being provided by the multinational networking solutions giant.

Employers in the modern workplace are freeing employees from desktop computers and 4×4 cubicles by encouraging them to work from their own devices-whether at an office or at home. With business solutions facilitating the BYOD trend, employers are creating smarter and more flexible workplaces while maximising productivity, reducing capital expenditure and enhancing the end-user experience for employees.

Recognising the direction in which technology is headed, Cisco has designed several solutions that enable organisations to visualise desktop applications and store them in an online cloud or remote server where employees can access them on their own devices whenever they are needed. Cisco showcased these to businesses worldwide in what they dubbed a “Work Your Way” showcase. The event, which took place in Jamaica at the Spanish Court Hotel on October 17, saw Cisco Gold Partner Digicel Business and Premier Partner SyncOn Technologies demonstrating BYOD and other collaboration solutions.

Ative Ennis, head of enterprise solutions for Digicel Business, provided some insight on the importance of BYOD and other collaboration solutions to Jamaican Businesses and others within the region.

“Mobile technology is the future, not just for large corporations but for everybody. As such, we have made a significant investment in our 4G Mobile data network to increase the data capacity and allow us to provide additional value services to our customers,” he said. Ennis further explained that with the network upgrades, Digicel customers would be able to host or participate in video-conferencing from their mobile devices using either the 4G mobile, wired or Wi-Fi internet and still have a rich mobile user experience.

Gartner Incorporated, one of the world’s leading IT research and advisory companies, has predicted that by 2014, 90 per cent of companies worldwide will support BYOD. According to Gartner, at least half of these businesses will require employees to participate in company-mandated BYOD plans by 2017.

As with any technological innovation, however, there are associated risks which include employee privacy and data security. With some BYOD policies, the company has access to the employee’s private data once it is stored on the device and can monitor the employee’s web activity. To preserve the integrity of the employee’s personal data stored on the device, IT managers can utilise secure containers or mobile device management (MDM) systems to separate the company’s data from the employees’ private data.

Protecting the company’s data can also be a challenge. Territory Business Manager at Cisco, Andre Shim, explained that there has always been a lack of confidence in wireless and cloud-based systems because of the prevalence of cybercrime.

“Data security is cause for concern to many businesses. But the truth is that wireless systems are much safer for data because there is a higher level of encryption and a more rigorous authentication process available,” Shim explained.

He further added that with the right security and compliance policies in place to police the company’s network, the company should have a highly advantageous experience with BYOD.

With the increasing popularity of personal smart devices and social media, companies must adjust themselves to optimise the performance of their workforce. BYOD offers a level of flexibility that breaks through time constraints and geographical boundaries.