{"id":13244,"date":"2015-12-17T08:18:49","date_gmt":"2015-12-17T08:18:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/live-42gears-site.pantheonsite.io\/?p=13244"},"modified":"2023-01-13T05:35:42","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T05:35:42","slug":"major-mobile-platform-providers-taking-enterprise-adoption-seriously","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.42gears.com\/fr\/blog\/major-mobile-platform-providers-taking-enterprise-adoption-seriously\/","title":{"rendered":"Major mobile platform providers taking enterprise adoption seriously"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Major<\/a><\/p>\n

Not so long ago mobile devices in enterprises meant using BlackBerry<\/strong> for white-collared workforce and Windows<\/strong> based handheld devices for blue-collared workers. BlackBerry was the de facto choice for enterprises. No other company could match the security and encryption features that BlackBerry provided for the mobile ecosystem.<\/p>\n

The advent of touch screen phones transformed the mobile device industry. The inclination towards touch screen phones forced enterprises to adopt BYOD <\/strong>or Bring Your Own Device.<\/strong> Similarly, introduction of tablets has positively impacted blue-collared workers helping them achieve efficiency. Tablets offer a cost efficient option to enterprises when compared to handheld devices. The handheld rugged device still have a specific use. However, the adoption of tablets in businesses is growing exponentially.<\/p>\n

Touch screen mobile devices were primarily meant for individual use. They were made and designed with the end user in mind and not for use in businesses to start with. As a result of this approach where manufacturers focused on the end user\u2019s needs, aspects such as security and reliability were overlooked.<\/p>\n

Over time, touch technology and the ease of use of tablets and smartphones became too good to resist for businesses. The popularity of smart mobile devices has forced manufacturers to start specific programs for easy adoption of their devices in enterprises. It\u2019s a big business and manufacturers cannot afford to ignore it any more. Smartphone and tablet manufacturers such as Samsung, Google and Apple have started targeting enterprise market by launching specific programs – such as Apple\u2019s Device Enrolment Program (DEP)<\/strong> and Samsung\u2019s KNOX<\/strong>. The objective of these programs and initiatives is to make their devices secure and ready for enterprise use.<\/p>\n

Below are steps taken by platform owners to strengthen their enterprise readiness. Many of them offer Mobile Device Management services but need a lot of catching up to do with the pure play Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) vendors.<\/p>\n

Apple<\/strong><\/p>\n

Apple\u2019s Volume Purchase Program <\/strong>is a dedicated App Store that gives businesses an opportunity to buy software licences in bulk to allot them to multiple users. Getting into partnership with other companies to meet complex enterprise needs is a common strategy that manufacturers adopt to ensure large number of their devices end up in enterprise. For instance Apple partnered with companies such as Cisco and IBM as it was losing its presence in the market to Google\u2019s Android devices.<\/p>\n

Apple\u2019s iOS comes with an MDM framework that is potent and scalable. This framework ensures the personal data and apps of employees are kept away from business resources. Apple\u2019s MDM solution for business and education help in managing multiple devices remotely, distribute apps, check battery health among other things. Apple also launched the iPad<\/strong> Pro<\/strong> running on the iOS 9 platform last month that comes with a number of enterprise-friendly features such as per-app VPN enhancements and restricting AirDrop in managed apps and accounts. iPad Pro reduces the various barriers business users face and help them focus on the task at hand.<\/p>\n

Google<\/strong><\/p>\n

Google on the other hand is providing APIs with new Android releases, to ensure that businesses have control over devices. For example Marshmallow<\/strong> now has APIs to securely convert a device into a single or multi app mode, a requirement for businesses when devices are deployed as kiosks. Google plans to incorporate certain Samsung<\/strong> KNOX <\/strong>(See below)<\/em> APIs to strengthen Android for enterprise deployments.<\/p>\n

Google came up with a new program called Android for Work<\/strong> for enterprises to regulate data and apps that employees store and use on their smartphones and tablets. With the launch of Android for Work, Google has taken a huge step towards popularizing Android devices for workplace use.<\/p>\n

Microsoft<\/strong><\/p>\n

While Microsoft had been popular with enterprises for rugged and handheld devices, it started losing market-share with the introduction of tablets. Now with the latest version of Windows one of the things Microsoft is trying to do is to ensure its relevance in the enterprise space.<\/p>\n

Microsoft Intune<\/strong> helps enterprises provide their workers with easy access to company data and resources from almost anywhere on virtually any device, while helping to keep company information secure.<\/p>\n

Much of Microsoft’s efforts to launch an MDM is focused on the use of container technology. It provides a stable interface for managing devices. MS Windows 10 comes with many features focused towards making enterprise deployment and adoption easier. For instance, there is Microsoft BitLocker<\/strong> encryption that protects data as it travels between systems, emails or storage devices. \u201cWindows Update for Business<\/strong>\u201d allows enterprises to control different aspects of Windows Update. Microsoft is also going to present multifactor authentication, preventing another way hackers use for unapproved access.<\/p>\n

Samsung<\/strong><\/p>\n

Samsung with its Galaxy series comes with a wide range of enterprise-friendly functions such as On Device Encryption<\/strong>, Exchange Active Sync<\/strong> support. They already have their own mobile security solution called Samsung<\/strong> KNOX<\/strong>that allow personal and business content to coexist on the same device. Google partners with Samsung, saying that all its future Android versions will be combined with Samsung\u2019s KNOX<\/strong> technology to enhance the security of all Android devices.<\/p>\n

With Samsung KNOX EMM, employees can manage their own devices. It minimizes the burden on IT and gives employees the liberty to be more productive. Samsung KNOX EMM comes with the following capabilities:<\/p>\n