The article prompted by PeterK [log in to unmask]  on Friday, September 
7, 2012, with a title 'Bring Your Own Device' to Work Carries Data Security 
Risks, caught my attention.  In that article, (published  in Law Technology 
News on September 6, 2012),  David J Walton, the writer, advises  Employers  
to consider stricter policies on use of employee's personal electronics for work-
related activities.  
 Walton quotes a recent technology report which stated that more than 50 
percent of companies with BYOD models required employees to cover all 
costs.  What was interesting to me was that many employees would not be 
bothered about costs related to the device as long as it provided them with 
greater choice and flexibility.  What seemed to me as an advantage of the 
employer, at first, was the cost control measure, in case of a constrained 
budget.  But taking a records management   view, the control was dangerous 
to security of company data. 
I noticed the problem of growth of personal cloud storage and services, such 
as Dropbox and others that allow employees to easily lease cost-free space 
on large servers.  Much as these types of services allow for collaboration 
among employees who are working from different geographic areas, I sensed a 
possibility of “smart” employees hacking into data with company secrets. 
 I know of an incidence where a reputable revenue collection body in East 
Africa had imposed all possible access controls to ensure security of sensitive 
data, but was surprised to find that some scrupulous people somehow 
obtained access to highly sensitive records.  I wonder what action would be 
best for a pro-active employer to show more vigilance in protecting corporate 
information or, ensure its confidentiality and security, in a BYOD world.  How 
can company policies work around the fact that “the individual consumer is 
king” in today’s personal electronics world?  


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