Wireless Management

Mobilizing an enterprise workforce comes with its own challenges, with mobile device management becoming one of the topmost concerns of enterprises adopting Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) strategies.

According to Telecom Expense Management Industry Association (TEMIA (News - Alert)) and Wireless Analytics, a wireless management BPO, security remains as the top concern for enterprises considering mobile device management (MDM) strategies.

These findings were revealed in a Web presentation titled, “Thinking About an MDM Solution… Now What?” hosted by TEMIA and Wireless Analytics. The webinar featured Erik Eames, Wireless Analytics managing director and Fernando Oliveira, Wireless Analytics VP of client services.

The highlight of the presentation was to educate attendees about the MDM market and the key MDM vendors, BYOD programs and other issues central to enterprise mobility initiatives in organizations.

According to Eames and Oliveira, an effective MDM strategy should address security, compliance, liability and cost concerns. Oliveira thinks MDM is not about the devices, but about “keeping high level of productivity in the hands of employees at all times.” The MDM program should engage all stakeholders. CIOs and managers should secure and test all devices before they are used in their enterprise. The MDM initiative should also provide helpdesk support.

The presentation also integrated several live polls designed to gather opinion about MDM implementation in organizations. In one poll, which asked the greatest concern about MDM, an overwhelming majority (70 percent) of poll participants claimed security. The concern over security is so significant that it beat cost, with 50 percent respondents citing cost as their topmost MDM concern.

Commenting on choosing a provider to ensure MDM security, Wireless Analytics said that there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The company works with several MDM providers, but also provides mobility management support for MDM solutions that they don’t represent.

"We're agnostic in this regard," said Oliveira, "which allows us to provide the right solution to each client." In one of the webinar’s live polls, 70 percent  of attendees said they use or have used MobileIron, which is the MDM provider Wireless Analytics partners with most for iPad deployment for enterprises.

Oliveira further emphasized that effective communication between departments is crucial to implementing a MDM for BYOD programs.

“HR will have concerns, finance is concerned with the cost, legal has to worry about liability…and of course executives are the ones responsible for choosing these plans. End-user communication is absolutely critical to the program’s success,” Oliveira added.

Meanwhile a recent TMCnet article discusses the benefits of insourcing wireless management as opposed to outsourcing. According to the report, choosing to insource is beneficial to wireless expense management because it offers hands-on control through the development lifecycle.

Instead of relinquishing control to an outsourcing firm who does not understand your business as you do, Insourcing allows your knowledge and direction to more effectively impact the development process.