It’s estimated that by 2030, individual users will own upwards of 15 connected devices. With many companies shifting to hybrid ways of working, that means managing, supporting, and monitoring multiple company-issued and personal devices for their employees.

Fortunately, solutions exist that can help your business streamline the management of these many devices to ensure they are secure and up-to-date.

Common Issues Businesses Face With Multiple Employee Devices

If your business is like most, its employees personally own, at minimum, a smartphone and laptop that they also use for work. Many remote workers also use home-based desktops, which are often equipped with company-installed software that allows them to easily access business servers.

This need to be “always on” has led to numerous IT-related challenges, including:

1. Inadequate security measures.
2. Phishing and other cyberattacks.
3. Unauthorized access to sensitive company data.
4. Non-compliance issues.
5. Lack of backup and disaster recovery planning.
6. Improper training.

As interacting with technology is a huge part of most employees’ day, these and other problems frequently lead to frustration, lower engagement levels, and general unhappiness. However, with the proper planning and technology, you can empower team members to do their best work no matter where they’re located and which device they choose to use.

How to Protect Your Business’s Data

Because each team member has their personal tech-related comfort level, you need to employ solutions that work across the board.

• Comprehensive training ensures individuals are happy, productive, and confident in their roles. It’s also vital to your business’s security and protection of sensitive data.
• Data sprawl and integration challenges often lead to work being done in multiple systems, with people having a difficult time finding the information they need. Cloud-based solutions enable employees to access the same information wherever they are over their preferred devices.
• Control data access so team members are limited to only accessing data relevant to their assigned tasks.
• Provide firewall security for internet connections.
• Create a mobile device action plan.

Optimizing IT infrastructure with limited internal resources is a common issue for SMBs, and there’s no one right way to address it. However, partnering with a managed services provider (MSP) can eliminate a lot of the stress that comes with keeping up with ever-changing tech and security requirements.

Managing Many Devices at Your Small Business

Creating a hybrid IT environment can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be. A qualified MSP can help you manage multiple user devices, including company-issued and personal smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. There’s no easier way to extend your IT staff and budget with the innovative services so critical to people, devices, and data security.