Installing apps for work on your personal phone?
Discussion
I use my personal mobile for work, always have. Same with my own laptop for a few reasons. Generally the stuff that a company gives out has to be handled in a certain way, and generally it's crap. The last company who offered work phones gave me a fairly mid-range Nokia. It was functional, but I didnt like having to carry and charge 2 phones, and I could only add 1 to the bluetooth in the car. Trying to use it for remote access to 'stuff' was painful as it didnt really have enough memory and the data allowance was a company wide one, you got shouted at for using too much data. I used to switch it off and forward the calls to my personal one.
The last laptop a company gave me came with a German keyboard so I handed that back in on the second day.
It's helped that most of the companies in the last 8 or so years have moved everything online, initially it was just Outlook Web Access, but now all my email and CRM is cloudy so I can access it from anywhere. There's a stipulation that we have to use 2 factor authentication (also Google Auth, it's used across 3 work platforms and I also use it myself), but if you want to use your own devices - crack on. I expense my mobile phone bill because it gets used for work purposes. I dont work for a company that would quibble that, and I've started enough jobs to know the warning signs in the interview as to whether the manager/bosses are going to be petty about that sort of thing, I try and avoid them as they're generally micro managers too, and nothing is ever right and they'll always take the piss
The last laptop a company gave me came with a German keyboard so I handed that back in on the second day.
It's helped that most of the companies in the last 8 or so years have moved everything online, initially it was just Outlook Web Access, but now all my email and CRM is cloudy so I can access it from anywhere. There's a stipulation that we have to use 2 factor authentication (also Google Auth, it's used across 3 work platforms and I also use it myself), but if you want to use your own devices - crack on. I expense my mobile phone bill because it gets used for work purposes. I dont work for a company that would quibble that, and I've started enough jobs to know the warning signs in the interview as to whether the manager/bosses are going to be petty about that sort of thing, I try and avoid them as they're generally micro managers too, and nothing is ever right and they'll always take the piss
I have LinkedIn installed on my phone which is only used for work contacts etc but i installed that myself as it helps my own professional development. I have a VPN that i use with my own laptop to access work emails if i'm at home, again that is my choice & I wanted the access as I'm a manager & need to monitor emails from 5 offices some of which can be urgent. Useful if I'm ill or away from work on an unplanned absence. If work wanted me to have any sort of apps installed i'd refuse & request an office phone. Not a problem as they dish out top end smartphones to senior staff anyway.
b
hstewie said:
hstewie said: OK some interesting responses which is good 
So, devil's advocate:
Let's use Google Authenticator which is an app, doesn't need to use the internet or any data allowance, might consume a small amount of battery, and you need to generate and enter a code each time you login to a given website.
You wouldn't put that on a personal phone because "It's work" - fair enough.
We can give you a phone just to run that app - do you want to carry two phones all the time?
We can give you a tablet just to run that app - do you want to carry a tablet all the time?
We can give you a hardware token that you have to carry all the time - you want to carry a fob all the time?
I'm interested in the mindset if I'm honest as I don't see it as a privacy issue or a control issue because it's not as if it's a solution that gives us control of your phone, visibility of anything on it, ability to wipe it, it's not something where we're blasting you with notifications or can "disturb" you via your personal phone, so if I'm honest I'm a bit confused that people seem to want to be carrying yet more kit
Install the Chrome plugin for it.So, devil's advocate:
Let's use Google Authenticator which is an app, doesn't need to use the internet or any data allowance, might consume a small amount of battery, and you need to generate and enter a code each time you login to a given website.
You wouldn't put that on a personal phone because "It's work" - fair enough.
We can give you a phone just to run that app - do you want to carry two phones all the time?
We can give you a tablet just to run that app - do you want to carry a tablet all the time?
We can give you a hardware token that you have to carry all the time - you want to carry a fob all the time?
I'm interested in the mindset if I'm honest as I don't see it as a privacy issue or a control issue because it's not as if it's a solution that gives us control of your phone, visibility of anything on it, ability to wipe it, it's not something where we're blasting you with notifications or can "disturb" you via your personal phone, so if I'm honest I'm a bit confused that people seem to want to be carrying yet more kit
We ask those that wish to access our e-mail from their personal mobile phones to install Airwatch, our MDM solution
The reason being that is 10x easier to push out details for our WiFi networks etc and if a phone is lost or stolen, we need to be able to ensure that no client information falls into the wrong hands (e.g if the sim is removed we can disable access to our e-mail servers). It also provides self-configuring inbox app with no user set up required, and the ability to push documents to Phones, such as emergency contact lists etc.
All company phones get rolled out with MDM installed as standard practice. If a user does not want to use their personal phone and has a business need for mobile access to e-mail then we provide them with a company iPhone. But either way, its secured and managed.
The reason being that is 10x easier to push out details for our WiFi networks etc and if a phone is lost or stolen, we need to be able to ensure that no client information falls into the wrong hands (e.g if the sim is removed we can disable access to our e-mail servers). It also provides self-configuring inbox app with no user set up required, and the ability to push documents to Phones, such as emergency contact lists etc.
All company phones get rolled out with MDM installed as standard practice. If a user does not want to use their personal phone and has a business need for mobile access to e-mail then we provide them with a company iPhone. But either way, its secured and managed.
Edited by IT1GTR on Thursday 11th February 09:33
f
k me, this is a thread for glistening examples of people who will never be more than employees.And if that's thick with judgement, so be it.
The only point to be getting narky is if your employer wants the ability to remote wipe your data from your own phone.
Anything else is trivia.
k
klootzak said:
fk me, this is a thread for glistening examples of people who will never be more than employees.
And if that's thick with judgement, so be it.
The only point to be getting narky is if your employer wants the ability to remote wipe your data from your own phone.
Anything else is trivia.
k
They want to wipe their own data from your phone. Wiping yours is a side-effect of the fact that most phones still aren't designed to keep work and personal data separated.k me, this is a thread for glistening examples of people who will never be more than employees.And if that's thick with judgement, so be it.
The only point to be getting narky is if your employer wants the ability to remote wipe your data from your own phone.
Anything else is trivia.
k
marshalla said:
They want to wipe their own data from your phone. Wiping yours is a side-effect of the fact that most phones still aren't designed to keep work and personal data separated.
If that's the suggestion then yes, tell them to stuff off. But if it's just occupying your home screen and using a bit of data, just suck it up. You probably take a dump on your employer's time and that makes you pretty much even.k
Spin it around, would you be happy with workers installing personal apps on a works phone?
FB, Twitter, eBay and the like, no probably not because you'll have a SyOps procedure or similar in place.
I've got my personal phone and a work one, but it's a Blackberry used mainly for email (although it's a hateful old thing - 9720). I think we're due them to be replaced with Samsung Notes for some additional functionality but I wouldn't dream of installing my own apps on it.
FB, Twitter, eBay and the like, no probably not because you'll have a SyOps procedure or similar in place.
I've got my personal phone and a work one, but it's a Blackberry used mainly for email (although it's a hateful old thing - 9720). I think we're due them to be replaced with Samsung Notes for some additional functionality but I wouldn't dream of installing my own apps on it.
Matt_N said:
Spin it around, would you be happy with workers installing personal apps on a works phone?
FB, Twitter, eBay and the like, no probably not because you'll have a SyOps procedure or similar in place.
I've got my personal phone and a work one, but it's a Blackberry used mainly for email (although it's a hateful old thing - 9720). I think we're due them to be replaced with Samsung Notes for some additional functionality but I wouldn't dream of installing my own apps on it.
Actually, no I don't mind. It's not a big deal. Really. The data is trivial and if it means they're happy to use their own devices at work then I'm the winner.FB, Twitter, eBay and the like, no probably not because you'll have a SyOps procedure or similar in place.
I've got my personal phone and a work one, but it's a Blackberry used mainly for email (although it's a hateful old thing - 9720). I think we're due them to be replaced with Samsung Notes for some additional functionality but I wouldn't dream of installing my own apps on it.
That said, if they want to be a
holes about their "rights" I'm happy to make a judgement about their career opportunities.Sad, for sure, but true.
k
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: We can give you a phone just to run that app - do you want to carry two phones all the time?
Yes, yes I do. Because then I can turn one of them off and leave it at home when I'm not working.If it is just for an authentication token then a fob is fine. You aren't getting access to my phone any more than you are getting access to my car, my living room or my home PC.
klootzak said:
Actually, no I don't mind. It's not a big deal. Really. The data is trivial and if it means they're happy to use their own devices at work then I'm the winner.
That said, if they want to be aholes about their "rights" I'm happy to make a judgement about their career opportunities.
Sad, for sure, but true.
k
Wasn't squarely directed at you, apologies if you thought that.That said, if they want to be a
holes about their "rights" I'm happy to make a judgement about their career opportunities.Sad, for sure, but true.
k
Interesting view, I'm not sure it's that widespread though with many companies having (rightly) tight restrictions on IT use policies.
I'm not even allowed to plug USB charging devices (cycle lights etc) into my base unit!
klootzak said:
Actually, no I don't mind. It's not a big deal. Really. The data is trivial and if it means they're happy to use their own devices at work then I'm the winner.
That said, if they want to be aholes about their "rights" I'm happy to make a judgement about their career opportunities.
Sad, for sure, but true.
k
Not sure it's how I'd phrase it but I kind of agree tbh. You'd think common sense would enter into it somewhere - which goes on both sides regards things like personal usage on company devices.That said, if they want to be a
holes about their "rights" I'm happy to make a judgement about their career opportunities.Sad, for sure, but true.
k
Mr Will said:
My work want the ability to remotely wipe my phone before I install any work related apps. They aren't getting that.
I used to use have mine connected to the work email, but now our IT policy includes things like being able to remote wipe. So now if I'm away from the office (currently working away for 5 months) I only access e-mail via web mail, which means I only check it occasionally rather than getting new emails pop up as and when they arrive.We're going through a similar thing at work at the moment - some of our clients we do work for are insisting that workers accessing the network from VPN need 2 factor authentication, so we're looking at whether the 2nd bit is an app installed on user's personal phone or a text message.
Most people's reactions are "why would I want work stuff on my personal phone?" so I'm guessing we'll go with the text message approach!
Most people's reactions are "why would I want work stuff on my personal phone?" so I'm guessing we'll go with the text message approach!
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: Not sure it's how I'd phrase it but I kind of agree tbh. You'd think common sense would enter into it somewhere - which goes on both sides regards things like personal usage on company devices.
Haha .. yes, I'm probably a bit cynical.20% of our people are completely brilliant. Committed and great to be around. The kind of people you really want to work with.
60% are effective, but "yeah well, when are we getting paid."
20% are an utter PITA, know thei rights and want everything their way.
As a fully paid up, tree-hugging liberal (and committed champagne socialist) I find the last group a bit of a challenge. But it never stopped me from getting rid of them
k
marshalla said:
klootzak said:
fk me, this is a thread for glistening examples of people who will never be more than employees.
And if that's thick with judgement, so be it.
The only point to be getting narky is if your employer wants the ability to remote wipe your data from your own phone.
Anything else is trivia.
k
They want to wipe their own data from your phone. Wiping yours is a side-effect of the fact that most phones still aren't designed to keep work and personal data separated.k me, this is a thread for glistening examples of people who will never be more than employees.And if that's thick with judgement, so be it.
The only point to be getting narky is if your employer wants the ability to remote wipe your data from your own phone.
Anything else is trivia.
k
My firm gives staff the option of having company hardware or installing apps on their own devices, and thus side steps the ludditism. From what I can see, more and more people are drifting towards using their own devices for phone use and securid fobs. The hassle of carrying two phones and a key ring full of RSA tokens is not worth the tin foil needed to protect us from the corporation lizard people. Similarly the firm is already exceptionally careful with its data and this sort of "inovation", it's hardly innovative, does nothing to undermine that.
The only slight hassle comes when someone is traveling and runs up a big phone bill they want to claim back. A company phone avoids that bit of admin.
The only slight hassle comes when someone is traveling and runs up a big phone bill they want to claim back. A company phone avoids that bit of admin.
If it was something that gave us wipe capabilities (and we do let people use personal phones for some stuff where this is part of the permissions needed) we're very clear about what we will do, what the app can do, and if people aren't happy we'll gladly supply a company device.
We're not aholes
We're not a
holes klootzak said:
Haha .. yes, I'm probably a bit cynical.
20% of our people are completely brilliant. Committed and great to be around. The kind of people you really want to work with.
60% are effective, but "yeah well, when are we getting paid."
20% are an utter PITA, know thei rights and want everything their way.
As a fully paid up, tree-hugging liberal (and committed champagne socialist) I find the last group a bit of a challenge. But it never stopped me from getting rid of them
Vote for 20% of our people are completely brilliant. Committed and great to be around. The kind of people you really want to work with.
60% are effective, but "yeah well, when are we getting paid."
20% are an utter PITA, know thei rights and want everything their way.
As a fully paid up, tree-hugging liberal (and committed champagne socialist) I find the last group a bit of a challenge. But it never stopped me from getting rid of them
rolled out Symantec VIP access across the board for remote users, if anyone wants to use it on their personal phone they have to register it and get their device linked to their account. Makes it a lot more secure and anyone that needs to use it can request a company phone if they don't' want to use it on their personal device.
Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff