By this time next year, there will be more than 20 billion devices connected to the internet and many of them will be employee-owned smartphones and tablets that are used for work. As mobile devices become a pre-requisite for many jobs, BYOD, or bring your own device policies are being developed to enable organizations to regulate and control enterprise apps and the data related to them.
The Role of Enterprise Mobility Management
EMM is a group of policies, tools, and processes that businesses use to oversee employee mobile devices within their companies. It consists of MDM (mobile device management), MAM (mobile application management), and MCM (mobile content management) and is often referred to as the “glue” that connects mobile devices to enterprise infrastructure.
The global EMM market is estimated to grow to nearly $500 billion by 2020. That’s a far cry from the $85 billion revenue of 2014, and a significant increase from $3.4 billion in 2019. What do these numbers tell us? Two things:
Organizations are increasingly relying on BYOD models.
They recognize embracing BYOD opens the door to more security breaches and risk.
Addressing this security challenge must become a core focus if organizations want to build a more seamless business experience.
Preparing Today for the EMM of Tomorrow
Is your organization equipped to secure and manage company-owned and BYO devices? Here are the EMM trends to keep an eye on in the coming months.
Secure & Single Integration Platform
Today, most users rely on their personal smartphones and tablets for work-related activity, but smart glasses, smart watches, and other smart devices not yet imagined will also come to play a role. EMM solution providers will need to expand their expertise accordingly, supporting these new digital innovations while promoting a cost-effective, cohesive, and productive integration with existing infrastructure.
Promoting Simplicity and Visibility
No matter which BYODs are used within your organization, effective EMM implementation will include user-friendly technology integration without negatively affecting ongoing processes. IT admins will be able to manage downtime and device performance while optimizing benefits effortlessly. Steps such as standardized security policies, device analytics, managing multiple endpoints and simplifying device enrollment will help drive productivity and create a close-knit experience in an environment where employees are using dissimilar devices both in-house and remotely.
Tailor-made Device Security Solutions
Each BYOD will require varying levels and depths of security. Preferred EMM providers will be those who offer consolidated solutions for a range of mobile devices and IT deployment systems while helping company leaders mitigate corporate data risks, breaches, and attacks.
IoT + EMM Will Rule
As organizations implement robust EMM solutions they’ll look to expand BYOD use by employees. The IoT and EMM will work together to drive a well-controlled and managed environment where all connected BYODs operate in sync and follow standard security policies. As the IoT explodes, look for a great synergy to develop between in-house and mobile networks.
Multi-platform and Multi-dimensional EMM Experience
Desktops, laptops, tablets, printers, smartphones, and wearables will be managed, secured, streamlined, deployed, and integrated in a seamless manner regardless of their OS or functionality with an organization’s IT system. Details EMM will need to consider include user identity verification, control over access to corporate systems, data, and content from BYODs.
The Bottom Line
As the shift to mobile continues, managing devices, apps, and data is becoming increasingly important. EMM is an agile solution that allows organizations to maintain various security controls such as user authentication, encryption, remote wiping, and anti-virus precautions while providing employees a smooth transition between their devices.
As the IoT, AI, AR/VR, automation, and analytics continue their steady forward pace, the EMM process will also evolve. Intelligent apps, endpoint management solutions, proximity marketing, and more will also affect how EMM operates. It will be interesting to see how these trends play out in 2020 and beyond.