Smartphones, tablets, laptops and other gadgets are one of the investments that most entrepreneurs have to come to term with. These devices can enable a variety of business functions (remote communication, enterprise mobility, etc.) and data, so it is essential for the device owner to protect them.
Imagine purchasing a batch of iPhones for your employees in an attempt to curb the security concerns associated with BYOD. After a week, one staff member comes to you with a broken screen as a result of an accidental drop – there goes your investment down the drain because you didn’t take any measure to insure or protect it.
These devices are vulnerable to loss, damage and theft. Also, between their sticker price and the value of the business data they contain, you can’t afford hassles that can put your gadgets out of service.
Therefore, it is important to take the necessary steps to protect your investment. Here are 3 tips to help you out:
1. Invest in external protection
To start, a good idea is to buy some “protective clothing” for your new devices. This should help protect the device from general tear and wear as well as scratches and drops. In addition, you get the opportunity to personalize the gadget, so you could use this option for the purpose of branding.
For instance, an iPhone 6s screen protector can help protect this model of iPhone from scratches and absorb impact to prevent the screen from shattering or breaking. Modern screen protectors feature chemically strengthened tempered glass that can protect the screen from different kinds of damages.
Likewise, you can get a screen protector and a case cover for your new notebook. This protection will prevent the accumulation of dirt on the screen while giving you the benefit of customization. For instance, you can get your company logo printed on the back of the cover.
2. Educate employees
When you’ve made a big investment into new technology to equip your staff with the latest tools and gadgets, you’d want to ensure they’re aware of the possibilities of damage and do their best to limit them. For instance, cold weather can drain battery life, and direct sunlight can damage the screen of tablets and smartphones.
Employees should be informed that when they bring devices inside the office from extreme outdoor temperatures, they should let them acclimate to the in-house environment before they start using them.
And if your company policy allows them to take the devices home, they need to be aware of the pet damage costs. Devices should be kept away from pet areas, and battery-charger cords should be wrapped in split-loom tubing to protect wiring as well as well reduce chances of pet accidents.
3. Protection plans are an option
Apart from random breakdowns and accidental damage, there is the risk of stolen or lost devices – it’s something that a screen protector or back cover can’t provide protection against. For these instances, protection plans can ensure you get a replacement device is you or your personnel face the unfortunate circumstance of device theft.
However, it is essential to backup your data because theft or device breakdown will make your business documents unrecoverable. There should be a centralized data backup policy to protect your device contents against unfortunate events.
