3 minutes
On a hot August evening in Ithaca, N.Y., during CEO Institute II, I found myself among a group of credit union executives from around the country engaged in a thought-provoking conversation as we dug into our plentiful slabs of barbecued ribs. Dinner was delicious, but the topic of discussion—the struggles we’ve all had in managing and balancing security with the efficiencies and personal preferences of staff using mobile devices—was nearly enough to rob us of our appetite.
Our shared dilemma involves dealing with two intertwined threats. On one hand, credit unions must secure their data systems and members’ personal financial information from the daily onslaught by cyber-thieves. On the other, we aim to optimize organizational productivity and support connectivity. How do credit unions simultaneously empower their teams and protect information without requiring team members to go through many difficult layers of security or asking them to carry around multiple devices, one for personal use and the other for professional use?
My contribution to the discussion was that mobile device management has proven to be an effective approach for Idaho Central Credit Union to tackle both sides of this dilemma. MDM provides a means to manage access to networks and applications by credit union-owned and personal devices, regardless of operating system or device type, signing in from anywhere. This system aims to deliver a streamlined solution to the challenges of ensuring network security in a “bring your own device” environment.
We are working to balance network security and accessibility with the help of the AirWatch system, one of several MDM options available in the marketplace at a reasonably affordable cost. We chose AirWatch because it seems to offer a complete solution, with options to meet different needs for application deployment and connectivity.
With our mixed environment of employees using credit union-owned smartphones, tablets and laptops and their own devices, we currently have AirWatch installed on about 150 devices. The initial setup takes less than two minutes, and the full installation, including application download and configuration, takes five to 10 minutes. The process is simple enough that team members can handle it on their own, and the applications are intuitive and easy to use, with minimal training required.
Putting MDM in place has provided a much easier and consistent experience for team members, now that all devices are configured in the same system. Adoption has been easy for employees, and all of the applications are intuitive and easy to use.
From the perspective of employees, personal privacy is often a concern when companies implement MDM. Our director of information technology at Idaho Central CU, Jeremy Bowcut, says, “It’s important to note that the security administrator isn’t able to see or access any of their personal information on texts, apps or other communications. The MDM system protects any information linked from the home office from being transferred, but doesn’t bring in any of the personal data from the device.”
MDM is like any other system: There will be updates and new deployments, and our IT staff stays informed about new security threats and changes that may be necessary to meet the needs of our credit union, staff and members. AirWatch provides a system that functions well and is stable. Much of what any MDM system can deliver is based on what the mobile devices allow them to do. In future versions of this system, I hope to see more integration with enterprise systems such as Vmware, consolidated on-premise server products, and more functionality on device troubleshooting.
Many of the executives I shared a meal with that hot night in Dallas were surprised and intrigued by the ease and cost of implementing something that could be helpful in supporting the needs of their institutions. They left behind a heaping pile of rib bones and took back to their credit unions ideas about the possibilities MDM presents.
CUES member Mark Willden is chief information officer at $2.7 billion Idaho Central Credit Union, Pocatello.
