Enterprise mobility refers to the trend of using mobile devices and cloud computing to complete work outside of the office in one’s own time. With more and more employees working out of the office, the need for enterprise mobility is stronger than ever.
In fact, the number of mobile workers in the US is expected to rise from 96.2 million to 105.4 million over the next five years. And, according to a report from IDC, by 2020, mobile workers will account for nearly ¾ of the US workforce population.
Enterprise mobility not only refers to mobile workers using their mobile devices, but also to the mobility of company data. Imagine yourself uploading a presentation you’ve been working on from your office computer to your Cloud storage service, and then being able to access it from your personal tablet to show at a client site. That’s the magic of enterprise mobility.
The Growth of
BYOD in the Enterprise Mobility Era
Modern-day employees are making the most of using personal devices at work. The BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) trend is gaining rapid traction, as innovations in mobile broadband and Cloud computing continue to develop.
As communication and collaboration become more streamlined, workflows will become simplified and productivity will rise. According to a recent research report by IDC, approximately 70% of companies said operating or capital expenditure costs were reduced as a result of implementing a BYOD program.
A recent survey by Spiceworks also reports that
54% of SMBs support employee-owned smartphones while 42% support tablets via
BYOD initiatives.
Addressing the Security Risks of Enterprise Mobility
While enterprise mobility has the power to enhance productivity, it also presents inherent security risks. The popularity of BYOD is forcing IT departments to implement stronger security measures to protect corporate data. According to an interview by TechTarget, Dave Trigo, VP and CIO at The Hanover Insurance Group, said that while the majority of employees practice BYOD safely, “it’s the 0.1% that can kill you.” Despite the many security concerns regarding BYOD and mobility, only 1 in 4 mobile devices containing sensitive data can be remotely wiped.
Developing Mobile Security
Policies
One of the ways companies can strengthen enterprise mobility security is by developing extensive mobile policies such as documenting procedures on what to do in the event a mobile device is lost or stolen.
According to Dave Glenn, executive VP of
security consultancy firm Creative Breakthroughs, developing security policies
and procedures is an equally big piece of the mobility security puzzle as the
technical details behind it.
Company leaders and IT service providers must
take measures to create and incorporate these policies when integrating a
mobility solution for the enterprise.
Top Reasons to Adopt Enterprise
Mobility
According to [x]cube LABS, here are the top reasons why enterprises are adopting mobility:
- 63% cost savings
- 51% productivity concerns
- 50% employee requests/needs
- 43% competition
outsourceIT Can Help You Make a
Seamless Transition
By allowing unlimited connectivity to your
workstation without having to be physically present in the office, enterprise
mobility keeps employees connected from any part of the world. This level of
flexibility improves business processes and increases efficiency – thus saving
you time and money.
At outsourceIT, we believe in providing businesses endless value in modern, innovative IT solutions. We understand the necessary security measures that must be addressed and implemented before recommending an enterprise mobility solution for your company. We’ll work closely with you to develop these strategies and deliver the right solution for your needs. Give us a call today to grab a coffee and talk it over!
