The Mobile Revolution: How Smartphones Are Changing Business IT
The iPhone and Android explosion is forcing enterprises to rethink mobility, security, and user expectations.
The smartphone revolution is in full swing. The iPhone 4’s success and the rapid adoption of Android devices are fundamentally changing how employees want to work and interact with business systems. Enterprise IT departments can no longer ignore mobility—they must embrace it.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Smartphone adoption is accelerating at an unprecedented rate. Industry analysts predict that smartphone sales will surpass traditional PC sales within the next few years. For enterprise IT, this means preparing for a world where the primary computing device for many employees isn’t a desktop or laptop—it’s their phone.
Beyond Email Access
Early enterprise mobility focused primarily on email access through BlackBerry devices. Today’s smartphones offer far more capabilities:
Business Applications: Native apps and mobile web interfaces provide access to CRM, ERP, and other business systems.
Rich Communication: Video calls, instant messaging, and collaboration tools are becoming standard expectations.
Document Access: Employees expect to view, edit, and share documents from their mobile devices.
The BYOD Challenge
“Bring Your Own Device” is no longer just a trend—it’s reality. Employees are purchasing powerful smartphones and tablets, and they want to use them for work. This creates both opportunities and challenges:
Benefits: Reduced hardware costs, higher employee satisfaction, faster adoption of new technologies.
Challenges: Security concerns, device management complexity, support standardization issues.
Security Implications
Mobile devices introduce new security vectors that traditional enterprise security models weren’t designed to handle:
Data Loss: Devices can be lost or stolen, potentially exposing sensitive business information.
Network Access: Smartphones connect to various networks (Wi-Fi, cellular) that may not be secure.
App Stores: Employees may install apps that could compromise security or violate compliance requirements.
Enterprise Mobility Management
Organizations need comprehensive mobile device management (MDM) strategies:
Device Provisioning: Standardized processes for setting up and configuring devices for business use.
Security Policies: Remote wipe capabilities, encryption requirements, and access controls.
App Management: Approved application catalogs and restrictions on unauthorized software.
Platform Considerations
iOS (iPhone/iPad): Strong security model, consistent user experience, but limited customization options.
Android: More flexible and customizable, but fragmented across different manufacturers and versions.
BlackBerry: Still the most secure option for enterprise use, but losing ground to consumer-friendly alternatives.
Looking Forward
Mobile isn’t just about phones anymore. Tablet devices like the iPad are creating new possibilities for mobile computing in business environments. We expect to see significant innovation in mobile business applications over the next few years.
The key for enterprises is to develop mobile strategies that balance employee productivity with security and management requirements.
Recommendations
Start with a pilot program involving a small group of users and specific business applications. Learn from the experience before rolling out mobility initiatives more broadly.
Invest in mobile device management tools early. The complexity of managing diverse mobile devices across different platforms requires specialized solutions.
Consider the total cost of ownership, including not just device costs but also management, security, and support expenses.
Packetvision LLC helps organizations develop comprehensive mobility strategies that balance user needs with security requirements. Contact us for more information.