Employees are more flexible than ever, and this is reflected in their interaction with their companies' IT solutions. Long gone are the out-dated methods of business operation that utilise a server/client relationship, with the user's end device being little more than a channel to connect to applications due to the incredibly versatile technology we have on the market today. As such, businesses implementing end-user computing (EUC) and transitioning their workloads from closely-controlled central applications to end-user devices is becoming common-place.
EUC offers several benefits, such as increased mobility and options in how and where employees work. However, as is the give and take nature of technology, it also comes with a fair share of threats, particularly the danger of compliance violations and an increased chance for individual errors.
This is why a clear, sufficient EUC strategy is imperative for your operation to thrive. So, now that we’ve warmed up, here are a few Centerprise essential steps to help you forge the right EUC strategy for your organisation:
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ASSIGN RESPONSIBILITY
Uncontrolled EUC is a recipe for disaster for any business. To combat this, it’s essential to distinguish and make clear who will assume responsibility for these processes, what their roles entail, and what conditions will be asked of end-users. Within your company’s IT team, a EUC engineer architect and service manager should be present to quarterback the strategy and oversee application installations and functionality testing with end-users, as well as a trained support specialist to aid in resolving user issues.
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DON’T NEGLECT SECURITY
Data is one of the most valuable assets businesses today own, which is why cyber terrorism is at its highest levels and increasing as businesses embrace a digital outlook. Therefore, robust security protocols should be at the forefront of your EUC strategy in order to be successful.
Businesses remain liable to breaching data protection regulations if stout access controls aren’t in place to prevent unauthorised users from accessing company data. As a general rule, all activity should be accounted for to allow efficient monitoring, both for audit purposes and to determine whether unauthorised access has indeed occurred.
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USER TRAINING IS KEY
Humans are, unsurprisingly, usually the weakest link in an IT system (don’t take it personally), and EUC - where the user acts individually with little management - is no exception. Human error is unavoidable but, it can be mitigated through communicating exactly how policies are to be used to employees and providing initial and updated training sessions to ensure understanding of the correct procedures.
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DATA MANAGEMENT POLICIES
There are many issues connected to how EUCs interact with data that could prove damaging if a clear data management policy isn’t implemented. For example, errors in scripting could result in EUC tools producing inaccurate output. Make this easier on your organisation by issuing a well-defined basis for administrating EUC applications, including methods for cleaning and reviewing, to ensure accuracy and a high standard.
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EMBARK ON YOUR END-USER JOURNEY WITH CENTERPRISE
End-user computing admittedly comes with some challenges, however, the blueprint to an effective deployment is well-known nowadays: Follow the several best practices and develop a wide-ranging strategy.
For more information on our various, award-winning, end-user computing solutions, contact us now!
