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AndrewWatikerFirstPaper 4 - 22 Mar 2017 - Main.AndrewWatiker
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Privacy in the Mobile Workplace - AirWatch | | | AirWatch: A Popular Solution | |
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< | The market now supports a number of products designed to support IT departments in managing these challenges. One of these is AirWatch from VMWare. This product allows for IT to “manage” devices running a variety of operating systems (including mobile operating systems) whether the devices are company owned or owned by an employee. While AirWatch, and similar products, may prove useful for companies attempting to secure their data, they raise serious privacy concerns. Focusing on AirWatch we find that while AirWatch claims to protect privacy, the protection offered is largely illusory. Further, employees are not given an adequate choice when use of these products is promoted. Legal scholars are beginning to recognise the threat of these kinds of applications can post if misused. | >
> | The market now supports a number of products designed to support IT departments in managing these challenges. One of these is AirWatch from VMWare. This product allows for IT to “manage” devices running a variety of operating systems (including mobile operating systems) whether the devices are company owned or owned by an employee. While AirWatch, and similar products, may prove useful for companies attempting to secure their data, they raise serious privacy concerns. Focusing on AirWatch, we find that while AirWatch claims to protect privacy, the protection offered is largely illusory. Further, employees are not given an adequate choice when use of these products is promoted. Legal scholars are beginning to recognise the threat of these kinds of applications can post if misused. | | | The Privacy Issues – Not Fully Disclosed | | | Ultimately, honest employees should not be put at personal risk (either in terms of employment or personal privacy) to protect corporate security. The proliferation of AirWare and its installation on employee’s personal devices crates unnecessary risks to the employee. Security can be enhanced through efforts on the part of operating system developers, corporate IT departments, VMWare and its competitors and lawmakers.
Creators of closed operating systems should step in to prevent applications like AirWatch from accessing users personal data. For example, Apple could code iOS to prohibit applications from accessing lists of applications installed on the phone and from initiating remote wipes. If necessary, Apple could create a separate version of iOS for corporate owned devices including these features, eliminating the expectation of personal security that comes from a privately owned device.
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> | Employers should cease the regular installation of this type of software on personal devices. If companies do not feel comfortable allowing personal devices to connect to their network they should either remove the requirement to work remotely or issue company-owned devices to all employees.
VMWare should update their website to provide a more honest explanation of the features of AirWatch? . The site should detail all of the most intrusive ways that the software can be used. Further, VMWare should recode their software to make the most egregious uses of the software prohibited by design rather than relying on self-regulation through best practices.
Finally, there should be legal protection for owners of devices from having their personal information subjected to the whim of an IT administrator. Either companies should be legally prohibited from executing full wipes and accessing non-company application information or employees should be legally protected from discipline for electing to not use this kind of software. | | | \ No newline at end of file |
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