Infosec: Apple iPhones and iPads are fit for enterprise use

Information security chiefs have urged their peers to embrace the  consumerisation of corporate IT as long as the technology fits, as it can drastically cut costs, improve productivity and even help IT get sign off for other projects.

Chief information security officer at brewer SABMiller, Mark Brown, told attendees at the Infosecurity Europe show that embracing consumerisation doesn't have to be difficult as long as the IT boss takes a few precautionary measures such as enforcing acceptable use policies.

"We are embracing consumerisation because it is the way to go. You have to go into it with your eyes wide open but there are no hurdles which are security hurdles," he said.

"The issues you have to get over are legal and HR issues, data classification and whether IT can step up to the plate and operate something outside their traditional skills set."

He added that the final ‘curveball' in the move towards allowing things like Apple iPhones to be used in the corporate environment is extending patch management policies to ensure all devices are kept up to date.

Chris Parker, chief information officer at fleet management firm LeasePlan, added that enabling his senior executives to use their iPads in the corporate sphere has led to unexpected gains.

"When executives are happy and using technology to be more productive the obvious benefit is the funding for new projects we are given," he explained.

"Consumerisation is not a choice, it's happening. The economics are there, the costs are coming down exponentially, so the question is 'how can we exploit their computing power in a safe, productive way?'."