For example, workers in all types of jobs can more easily access corporate data, enterprise applications and a variety of content from virtually any location. They can also more effectively communicate and collaborate with coworkers, business partners and customers around the world, and in general work more productively because of the greater flexibility enabled by these devices.
But the proliferation of mobile technologies — in effect, the mobile revolution that’s underway — is also bringing daunting challenges in terms of information security, manageability and productivity. Organizations need to effectively address these challenges, because there is no turning back from the impact mobile technology is having on business operations across the board.
Mismanagement of mobility
To effectively manage this new environment, IT and business executives at organizations will need to get a good handle on both the variety of devices in use — smartphones, tablets, laptops, smartwatches and other wearables — as well as the operating systems they run and the applications they support.
Even though mobile technology and BYOD have become so commonplace, that doesn’t mean organizations have mastered the art of managing these environments. As research from Ovum has noted, more than 25% of bring your own smartphone activity still goes on directly against corporate policies, and only 36% of those employees who use their own smartphone for work have signed up to any kind of policy governing that usage.
Other research reveals additional weaknesses. For example, a March 2015 study by the Ponemon Institute and IBM reported that about 40% of large companies are failing to take proper precautions to secure the mobile apps they are building for their customers. That study also found that enterprises are doing a poor job of protecting their corporate- and employee-owned devices against cyberattacks, and this gives hackers an opportunity to access user, corporate and customer data.
Multifaceted mobile device management
One viable way to address the burgeoning mobility challenges is to deploy technology tools such as enterprise mobility management (EMM). These products provide the ability to secure and manage devices used by employees, whether they are owned by the company or its employees. EMM solutions are designed to be used for managing a variety of devices, and many can support multiple mobile operating systems.
EMM covers several areas of functionality, including mobile device management, mobile application management and mobile content management. Each of these is vital to building a strong mobility management strategy.
The need for EMM solutions has risen quickly, as enterprises seek ways to manage various facets of mobility, including devices, software, data and applications, according to a 2015 report from research and consulting firm The Radicati Group Inc.
Research by VDC shows a drastic surge in the EMM market worldwide: