| Because many handheld devices or PDAs have | | | | their handheld devices to their office PCs. Yes, |
| the ability to connect to your clients' LANs (either | | | | your clients could adopt a policy banning PDAs |
| directly or indirectly), you need to consider PDA | | | | from the office entirely, or making users |
| remote access, just as you would any other | | | | responsible for their own PDA-related support |
| remote device, such as an employee's home | | | | issues, but these extreme approaches may not |
| computer or a company-owned notebook. | | | | be practical. |
| This also should include a thorough discussion of | | | | After all, handheld devices are becoming a major |
| what sensitive data can be stored on a handheld | | | | competitive force that others in your clients' |
| device, given that the pocket-sized PDA devices | | | | industries may be rushing to integrate into their |
| are inherently vulnerable to theft. | | | | information technology toolkit. |
| Establish Backup Procedures | | | | Employees Can Cause Other Damage |
| In the same context of data security, be sure to | | | | In addition, your clients probably don't want to |
| establish some kind of backup procedures. We've | | | | leave employees to install and support their own |
| all heard the horror stories of handheld device | | | | PDA desktop connectivity, unless they are very |
| users losing three years of appointments and | | | | PC savvy. All too often, a user inadvertently will |
| 2,000 customer names that were stored on their | | | | break a multitude of key software configurations |
| PDA and not backed up anywhere else. Don't let | | | | while accepting default installation settings. |
| your clients become one of these statistics. | | | | If your clients are determined to have users tap |
| Desktop Connectivity | | | | the power and flexibility of handheld devices or |
| Also think about how your clients' internal gurus or | | | | PDAs, they'll need someone PC savvy (your firm |
| your consulting firm will assist users in connecting | | | | or an internal guru) managing these installations. |