To expand on the expertise of a TV commercial character, enterprises are increasingly recognizing mobility as an area of business that requires a formulaic and strategic approach. Given that the physical area of the workplace is now more subject to the umbrage of wireless networks than the location of a desk, it is imperative that enterprises have formal and comprehensive mobile strategies in place as means to provide and protect their mobile business operation and assets.
Defining “Mobility Strategy” and its Advantages
Unfortunately, there remains a great deal of confusion and opportunity in the mobile toward fully space among enterprises.
For starters, the term “mobile strategy” is incredibly vague. At this point, enterprises lack a standard industry definition for what constitutes mobility strategy. A mobility strategy may describe an approach as simple as an informal bring-your-own device (BYOD) policy. It may also describe a full suite of mobile apps and devices that enable employees to access email, schedule, and record hours and project notes anytime and from anywhere, in addition to software packages designed specifically to manage that portfolio of investments, such as mobile device management and mobile application management.
Given the ambiguity surrounding the terminology in this space, the definition of a mobility strategy ultimately exists on an individual basis for enterprises, and depends on the extent of mobile investments and pursuits a company works into their operating budget and business plans.
However, once a company identifies the major components and investments to act as they focus of a mobility strategy, they put themselves in a position to reap the benefits of mobility. In particular, robust mobile investment can increase productivity and streamline business processes in addition to improving customer engagement and promoting a company’s competitive edge.
How Cloud Solutions Help Address Security Concerns
However, along with advantages brought from mobility investment, security and other issues loom as risks that accompany mobile business operations. First, as with all things business-related, the cost associated with building out a mobile investment portfolio presents a challenge for many enterprises. In addition, a lack of field knowledge, additional resources, or development talent needed effectively operate and innovate in the space present obstacles many enterprises confront in their attempts to move forward with a mobile strategy.
However, no challenge plagues mobile progress in the enterprise as much as data security. In particular, networks and access points opened by employees operating from mobile devices detail a level of security and data exposure that keeps enterprise CIOs up at night.
Recently, enterprises have turned to cloud solutions in efforts to mitigate the security risk associated with mobility, according to research from Clutch and DMI. Simply put, cloud platforms provide secure means to access and store company data, ultimately allowing enterprises to operate more comfortably on a mobile platform.
“Enterprises are looking for ways to improve the productivity of their workforce by ensuring their employees have secure access to accurate and timely information while they are on the move,” said Varun Dogra, CTO of DMI. “It’s mobile first, cloud first everywhere.”
According to this research, enterprises will continue to leverage cloud as a basis point for mobile operation. More enterprises expect to both increase their investment in, and experience the most benefit from, cloud integration more than any other singular mobility investment in 2017.
Looking Forward
If they have not already, enterprises would be wise to formulate and map out comprehensive mobility strategies. In the future, reliance on mobile as a platform for business operation will undoubtedly continue to increase. Thus, there is no reason to expect investment in mobile should not increase in turn.
While security threats and other issues will always present challenges to mobile business operations, investing in solutions and software like cloud platforms allow for enterprises to support and reap the benefits of well-researched and funded mobility strategies.
