I was traveling in Europe a few weeks back and lost my phone. It wasn’t just any phone, it was my Agito powered Nokia e61i. I love that phone. I have mobile email, Qik, Google Maps 2.0, and of course the Agito client running on it. I was really sad to lose that phone, and not just because of the cost, or (significant) inconvenience, but for the fact that I felt irresponsible.
The worst part of the whole debacle was that I didn’t have any device management running on my device. So whomever found my phone would be getting my emails, Facebook updates, etc. I rallied, and used my laptop to VPN back to Agito and change all my passwords, and disabled my Agito client so calls could not be make on the phone. While I was slightly relieved, I was still concerned about the data saved on the phone. Who would look at it? What would they do with the data?
I swore at myself the remainder of the trip, because I should know better. As an executive for a enterprise mobility company, I know the statistics around disclosure of lost devices. I made a promise to myself that when I get stateside, device management would be a priority for us.
I am back and just read an article in Informationweek by our friend Richard Martin. In his article titled “Trouble Ahead: Most Companies Don’t Have A Mobile Device Management Plan” (catchy, if not dead on), he cited a few companies that have made the same mistake I have. That stats are chilling:
Not only have most organizations in InformationWeek’s recent survey of 307 business technology managers not adopted mobile device management strategies, most of them–52%–don’t even have plans to buy or implement tools that would help them corral proliferating wireless devices.
Take my advice, get in front of mobile device management sooner rather than later.
Pej