Consumerization Strategies for the CIOAbout This Topic
Cloud computing applications, which are accessible from anywhere and often free, are catching on among end users. Despite its benefits, this trend is concerning for employers, because IT departments lack control over the management and security of these cloud-based applications. If an employee uploads sensitive documents to a cloud storage service, for example, the business’ bottom line is at risk if a data breach occurs. Or if an employee routes customer information through one of the popular cloud computing applications for email, it could violate compliance regulations. Some of the top cloud applications among end users are Dropbox, Gmail and even Salesforce.com. Managing access to these cloud computing applications will be crucial as the consumerization of IT evolves, and vendors such as Citrix Systems and VMware have developed products that aim to give IT more control over these cloud-based applications.