The $100 billion problem

[s7khan]

This article doesn't mention BlackBerry or any other mobile phone platforms specifically, but it does delve into the issue of information security. One aspect is the growing trend for corporations to allow employees to bring their own smart phones for work purposes. While there hasn't been any major breach (that the public knows about), I figure it's something waiting to happen.

'Bring Your Own Device' Policies in the Workplace: Many companies are moving to a 'bring your own device' policy that allows employees to choose which smartphone, tablet or even laptop they use. Whether a formal policy is in place or not, most companies can assume their employees are using personal devices to access company data. A September 2011 Forrester Research report showed that 48% of information workers bought smart phones to use for work purposes without considering the requirements and policies of their IT department. Without control of the device it is difficult to ensure they are locked down. If you do not own the device, who owns the data on it when your relationship with the employee ends?

While I would love RIM to make a device or devices that is better then any other OS as consumer friendly device, it's corporate roots might play an asset, if they use their position to their opportunity. On a slight tangent, they did not bother using a public backlash when that CarrierIQ or location based monitoring thing hit. I wish they did.