Though 2015 is behind us, its lessons in the world of mobility are not ones to be forgotten, but rather to be built on. We saw a shift in how enterprise mobility management (EMM) is being addressed, one that starts at the foundational level of mobile strategy. We became aware of major data breaches at notable companies and witnessed a sharpened focus on cybersecurity. Yet while many organizations dipped their toes in the mobility waters, there is so much more to be done in the areas of device security and management. Here are the five trends we think you can expect to see in the coming year.
Prediction #1 – Companies will be re-evaluating their choice in EMM/MDM.
Throughout the past 12 months, EMM (formerly known as MDM, mobile device management) platforms and their features have changed considerably. Therefore, early adopters of such solutions are looking deeper into the platforms they currently use. In the months ahead, companies will hone in on solutions that are easy to manage and able to better integrate with existing IT infrastructure. They will also continue looking for features that offer more granular control.
Prediction #2 – Businesses will continue evaluating the corporate-provided device vs. BYOD model.
As mobile device ownership continues to grow, employee desire to use familiar devices remains high. Meanwhile for many companies, although some cost savings are realized with a BYOD (bring your own device) model, the IT support and stipend tracking has become burdensome. Expect to see businesses limit their BYOD program to include only specific brands and models they are willing to support. (Losers will likely be Blackberry devices and Androids devices more than two years old.)
Prediction #3 – Organizations will experience a push toward heightened mobile productivity.
Currently, it’s not uncommon for some employees to use their company-provided mobile device for only the most basic tasks, like accessing email. Watch for companies to evaluate who in the organization is issued which device(s) and for what purposes. We hope that this audit will encourage companies to train employees on how to use their devices for work, select apps that can actually increase productivity and eliminate the burden of managing devices for employees who aren’t in need of them.
Prediction #4 – EMM users will look for ways to get more from their platforms.
The ongoing investment of paying for an EMM platform and having your IT team manage it is not a small one. Therefore, EMM managers and staff will continue looking for ways to leverage their EMM platform to solve business problems and minimize risk. Accessing more of the EMM functionality available will help businesses stay in front of evolving mobility concerns and get more for their money.
Prediction #5 – Company and customer data protection will be a top business priority.
As new payment methodologies and personal mobile pay applications are released and adopted, mobile devices will be a primary target of hackers. Top executives will require the CISO to do more around cybersecurity and protecting company and customer data. This may come in the form of deploying application security testing tools for monitoring and testing all apps, while integrating with EMM vendor compliance rules if possible, to prevent potentially infected devices from accessing company data.
Do you need help addressing mobility in your organization this year? Or, do you have thoughts on mobility predictions we’ve overlooked? We’d love to hear from you. Happy 2016!
Phil Poje | CEO, TechOrchard
A serial entrepreneur with more than 30 years of executive leadership and ownership experience, Phil has a unique understanding of the challenges that exist within the rapidly growing technology sector. Contact him directly at phil@techorchard.com to discuss innovative ways for overcoming those challenges and propelling your organization to new levels of success.
