The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/27607
Donald: We use ActiveSync to connect our iPhones to the Exchange System and we support Citrix. We don’t use any additional software. We looked at the various software companies out there and made two decisions: we didn’t feel that the experience they have on the iPhone was the right kind of experience — like making you run DOS programs on a Windows PC — and we literally have hundreds of software packages, so we decided not to add to the load. So we simply run BES for BlackBerry devices and ActiveSync for everything else. Ryan: Yes, as I mentioned, we have several tools. You can go one of two routes with ActiveSync devices. Choose a base of devices that meet your security requirements, that you’ll support and that work with the MDM API that those platforms provide you. Or you can do a sandbox approach where you support a wider variety of devices and only manage the enterprise sandbox on them. David: Until quite recently we only used ActiveSync and we set a policy that, depending on the device and version of firmware, different features would be supported. Now we’re using Zenprise to manage all devices and that allows us to get a little more granular into the controls that each product can have as far as encryption and the other things that are supported. We can offer devices across the board, manage them from one central console and have more insight into who has which products. Larry: ActiveSync devices are sometimes a bit tough to manage without some outsourced support. We rely on our existing investment in Microsoft Exchange 2010 and ActiveSync to manage those devices that are connected. How do you manage expectations for those users who want the latest devices? Larry: That goes hand-in-hand with our mobile device policy. A few years ago we basically allowed only BlackBerry devices. Now attorneys and core users are allowed to buy their own devices and plans with the caveat that they must be able to connect to our corporate e-mail. As long as the device complies with the Exchange ActiveSync settings, it’s good to go. But I would say that the jury is still out as to whether firms should allow ActiveSync devices to connect without the use of a third-party tool such as a Good server. We know how great a BES works in managing BlackBerry devices and relieving the burden on Exchange and ActiveSync, and the same may prove true for Droids, iPhones and other devices that might wreak havoc on Exchange performance if these tools are not available. Ryan: We believe it’s a conversation to have with your attorneys — hear from their perspective what features they need and understand how to help them in their practice. If you can’t 22 www.iltanet.org Peer to Peer support the particular device they want, you can see if you can meet their needs with the technology you do support. Donald: Well, since they own the device, they can upgrade anytime they like on their own nickel. However, we currently don’t support Android or Windows smartphones due to our rigid security standards and restrictions. We only support BlackBerry and iPhone 3GS or better. Now on the laptop side, we select the hardware and vendor. We have a couple different models, so we can give attorneys a choice. David: I think you have to be proactive and flexible at the same time with that. As an example, when the iPhone first came out, it didn’t support a number of security features. I was at another firm at the time and I proactively e-mailed people to let them know that we didn’t support it. That really helped offset potential problems. At Burr & Forman, we have a list of supported devices. If someone wants a device not listed, they’re encouraged to talk to me or one of the IT staff and we take it as a one-off case from there. Of course, new products and features will continue to come, so IT folks are going to have to be even more proactive in keeping up with trends and making sure users can be supported. Do you have occasion to work with your end users in supporting personal devices and/or family plans? Donald: Our firm doesn’t support family plans. We think it’s a nice benefit to our attorneys that the firm pays for, manages and supports unlimited data, voice and texting services, but not as part of their family plan. If they want a family plan, that’s their choice and they’ll be responsible for paying for it. Ryan: Yes, we do make carrier discounts available to our users and their families. We can give general advice, but we refer specific questions to our carrier partners. Larry: Well, we’ve had some challenges in that respect, especially with AT&T BlackBerry plans. But we do try to help with these issues as much as we can. How are you educating your users on which device works best for a particular situation? Donald: Actually, it’s the other way around. Nobody in IT practices law, so — while we can have all kinds of interesting ideas about how these devices might work — it’s the lawyers who are educating us. So what we try to do is foster information exchange between lawyers — as one comes up with a great idea, we have the ability to share that information with others who might benefit from the knowledge. And