Invest in Mobile Device Management to Make BYOD Models Successful

Over the next five years, according to estimates from ABI Research, upwards of a billion more smartphones will enter the marketplace. That amount would nearly double the total number of people who use them, since roughly a billion people from around the world already use them. While some have them so that they can browse the web during their free time, do some mobile shopping or use social media to keep up with friends, many are using them to be more efficient and get work done while on the go. But without the proper mobile device management, bring your own device (BYOD) programs that allow employees to work from anywhere would not likely work.

Currently, more than 30% of all mobile-service subscribers in the United States are business mobile users. This means that BYOD models are quite common, and lots of workers are taking advantage of the opportunities that they present. From being able to get some work done while waiting in the airport before a business trip to answering emails while picking kids up from soccer practice, mobile devices help workers complete projects at all times of the day, not just while they are in the office. But that trend means that businesses need to invest in iPhone management and iPhone security programs that help make sure that the vital information employees access is properly protected.

A report by Forbes found that, by 2015, native PC projects will be outnumbered by mobile app development by a ratio of around four to one. This means that the business landscape, predicated on face-to-face meetings and productive office places for so long, is drastically changing. Now, the emphasis seems to be shifting towards a mobile workplace that allows employees to communicate and collaborate from anywhere, so having a mobile device management plan is almost a must for businesses looking to stay competitive.

One of the drawbacks of BYOD models and mobile device management is that, quite simply, they can be a bit costly. Though they might help workers complete projects more efficiently, both devices and security programs require a financial investment. A recent report says that half of BYOD companies make employees pay technology costs and, perhaps surprisingly, they are generally compliant.

Companies could lose millions on both replacing lost data and the time wasted doing so if mobile devices are not secured. So though BYOD programs can be great for efficiency and helping workers complete necessary projects, devices need to be properly managed.