TRP: Aside from device management, managing applications is also a challenge facing IT departments. When it comes to this, what works and what doesn't work for enterprises?
KM: One difficulty in managing apps is app wrapping. It attempts to change a group of apps so that they meet higher security requirements and only exchange data and documents with each other. However, this can lead to both legal and technical challenges. So for every app and every new update to the app, there is a need to run a long, complex process each time. Also, there is rarely any vendor warranty, liability and support for wrapped apps.
For app management then, organisations should favour other options that fully exploit the underlying platforms and yet still allow IT full control. In the best case, users should be able to work with the apps they prefer.
Enterprises should definitely use Open In Management with iOS devices. It allows them to control which accounts and which apps are permitted to open and exchange corporate files on iPads and iPhones. An enterprise mobility solution should support this important security feature in order to prevent uncontrolled opening in insecure apps or in the cloud.
An enterprise app store is part of application management, and a must-have!
TRP: Box and Dropbox have been the standard for consumer file sharing for a long time – will they ever take over the enterprise?
KM: We asked 507 administrators if they want a public cloud or on-premise solution for their file sharing. The results were clear: 74% preferred a solution in their own enterprise network, most notably for security reasons. In this respect, we do not expect vendors from the public cloud to gain a permanent foothold in the enterprise. The risk of working with corporate data in this way is simply too great.
TRP: With so much talk around the cloud and security, how can enterprises balance the two and create the best of both worlds?
KM: For freelancers and small teams, it certainly makes a lot of sense to use solutions from the cloud. But it should never be forgotten that a certain amount of security risk exists. Sensitive corporate data, however, is always better handled on-premise at the enterprise. If the goal is to facilitate productive work with the solution, integration in the file system and in Exchange and many more is still needed. Many already have them in the personal cloud behind the firewall. Access to information or applications of non-critical security, however, can be pushed safely to the cloud.
TRP: How do you rate Apple's position in the enterprise?
KM: Apple has been unchallenged at the top of business since the release of iOS 7. Everything is provided here at the operating system level in order to meet all security and productivity needs in combination with an appropriate enterprise mobility solution. The recently released iOS 8 also offers a number of very interesting upgrades for using iPhones and iPads in the enterprise environment. Document Picker and Document Push are only a few of the important points in this context.
TRP: Why are enterprises placing so much emphasis on iOS?
KM: iOS is quite honestly the most mature and also simplest mobile operating system for enterprise use, so it comes as no surprise that the majority of enterprises rely on iPads. But, as already mentioned, Android will be interesting to watch when Google catches up with business functions for the Android operating system.
About Kristin Montag
With a degree in international business administration, Kristin Montag is Product Manager for Cortado Corporate Server at Cortado AG. Previous to her role in product management she gained seven years of experience in international sales covering France, USA, Nordics and Germany. Her roles included Key Account Management, Channel Development and Director of Sales. She builds upon her extensive sales experience within the IT sector to create customer-tailored and productivity-enhancing solutions.
