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Posts Tagged ‘Android’

Enterprises Want Broad Functionality for Mobile Device Security

Monday, November 1st, 2010

Now that we all have an assortment of iPhones, Droids, tablet devices, and Windows devices, lots of industry folks believe that mobile security is the next hot market.  There are a number of players already in this market from pure plays like Good Security and Mobile Active Defense.  Traditional endpoint security vendors like McAfee see this as an extension of its antivirus business.  Symantec is in the same boat with antivirus as well as encryption software from PGP.  Networking vendors also see up-side in the mobile device security market.  Cisco has AnyConnect and ScanSafe while Juniper Networks wants to combine its Pulse client with its recent acquisition of SMobile.

These vendors come at mobile security from many different angles with different security functionality in different places–some on the device and some on the network.  Will this confuse the market?  No.  Enterprises are actually looking for a wide range of mobile device security functionality.  According to an ESG Research survey of 174 security professionals working at enterprise (i.e., more than 1,000 employees) organizations, the top three most important mobile device features are 1) device encryption, 2) device firewall, and 3) strong authentication.  They also want things like DLP, VPN, and device locking.

Beyond security functionality, most enterprises also want an integrated platform for mobile device security and management.  In other words, they want a single software package for device provisioning, configuration, reporting, etc.  They also want a common set of features for all mobile devices rather than a potpourri of different features for iPhone, Windows 7, Droid, Palm, etc.

It appears then that the mobile device security market will include networking, security, and management vendors along with device manufacturers and carriers as well.  Personally, I think mobile device security will have a network architecture look to it, with technology safeguards built into devices, the enterprise, and the cloud.  If this happens, integration will be critical for all leading products.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Microsoft’s Mobile Phone Opportunity

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

Microsoft and partners announced a series of new mobile phones yesterday. The new phones are based upon Windows 7 which replaces the more antiquated Windows Mobile OS.

This announcement places Microsoft in an unfamiliar spot, the “hot seat.” Everyone is pressing Microsoft on how its Windows 7 phones will compete with iPhone and Google Android. When Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer visited NBC’s “Today” show, host Matt Lauer mentioned the iPhone several times. Ballmer continually re-directed him back to the product.

One overused IT cliche is to declare that a company or product is “dead.” I’m sure that many pundits are saying this about Microsoft, trumpeting that Windows Phones are simply too little too late. I disagree for several reasons. Yes, Apple and have become the sexy consumer phones, but Microsoft still has a huge enterprise installed base. According to a recent ESG Research survey, 62% of enterprises already offer formal support for Microsoft mobile phones. Only Blackberry enjoys a higher support status. Combined with its Windows prowess, Microsoft has an opportunity to:

  1. Continue to tweak mobile applications. The fact is that we are just learning what type of applications, functionality, and usability people need for mobile devices. Microsoft has the ability to modify franchise applications like Office, Outlook, and Sharepoint to work best on Windows Mobile. If Microsoft can make this difference meaningful, business users will follow. Microsoft can also point its army of external developers at Windows phones to develop enterprise-focused applications. Finally, Microsoft can use Hyper-V to virtualize PCs on mobile devices better than anyone else.
  2. Use client licensing as a hook. Microsoft often gets enterprise customers to buy lots of applications with pricing bundles. If mobile applications come as part of its Enterprise Client Access License (ECAL), it has an immediate leg up on others.
  3. Focus on management, security, and compliance. Mobile devices can increase risk, endpoint management costs, and regulatory compliance complexity. According to ESG Research, 74% of enterprise organizations believe that mobile devices make complying with industry or government data security and/or privacy regulations more challenging. Microsoft can help bridge this gap by positioning Windows Phones along with existing Windows administration, operations, and security tools.

Microsoft shouldn’t try to compete with consumer-focused iPhone or Android. Rather it should combine some sexy consumer features with rock-solid business functionality. Apple and Google have momentum, Blackberry is vulnerable. If Microsoft establishes this position as “good enough” for consumers but superior for the enterprise, it wins where it counts–with software revenue.

Tags: , Apple, Blackberry, , , , RIM, Windows Mobile, Windows Phone
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Blackberry, Windows still own the enterprise but . . .

Friday, August 6th, 2010

Consumer buzz tends to center on two mobile phones: Apple iPhone and Android. As far as the enterprise is concerned however, these two phones remain down the list.

ESG Research conducted a survey of 174 IT professionals from enterprise organizations (i.e., greater than 1,000 employees) and asked them which mobile device platforms their organizations support. Here is what they said:

Phone:                     Support today:                     Will support in the future:

Blackberry                     74%                                             11%
Windows Mobile              62%                                              9%
iPhone                          43%                                             18%
Palm WebOS                  24%                                             17%
Google Android                 8%                                             16%
Symbian                          7%                                             14%

A few facts about the survey. First, it was conducted at the very end of 2009 so it doesn’t capture recent momentum or the impact of new products like iPad and iPhone 4. Additionally, this data comes from IT professionals in North America only.

My read of this data is as follows:

  1. Blackberry retains a strong position. Yes, other data indicates a migration trend away from Blackberry and phone swaps are much more common than corporate PC to Mac swap outs. Nevertheless, Blackberry infrastructure is embedded in the enterprise so new “cool” products could become the corporate choice.
  2. Microsoft is teetering. Windows Mobile has a big installed base but most enterprises are looking closely at other phones. Microsoft has tried to link Windows Mobile to Office, Outlook, and Exchange but users want the pizazz of iPhones, Palms, and Androids. Can Microsoft catch up or will it produce the mobile device equivalent of Zune when the market wants iPods?
  3. Don’t count out HP. Palm was on a downward spiral with consumers but it seems to be holding its own in the enterprise. Now that it is owned by enterprise-savvy HP, it could really impact this space.
  4. Google remains in the distance. Google support is thin but many organizations will include Android support in the future. Nevertheless, it has a lot of work to do if it is going to push others aside and gain share in the enterprise market.

Unlike consumers, enterprises want more than just cool devices — application development, device management, security, and integration into the existing infrastructure are all important considerations. Vendors need to find the right combination of consumer cool and corporate requirements support if they want to defend their position or gain share in the enterprise.

Tags: , Apple, Blackberry, , , , , , Palm WebOS, RIM, Symbian, Windows Mobile
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Enterprises Are Embracing Mobile Devices

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

The latest iPhone commercials feature video calls and multiple couples sharing intimate moments. When describing , wireless carrier talks about, “the apps you crave.” Microsoft’s latest pitch is that Windows Mobile phones fold neatly into social networking.

There are a few common themes here. Each vendor is targeting consumers with whiz-bang functionality and lots of applications. Video capabilities are highlighted in all cases.

Given this focus, you would think that mobile devices = consumer devices but this is not the case. Enterprises are also running to and jumping on the mobile device bandwagon in a big way.

ESG Research surveyed 174 IT professionals about their organizations’ adoption and use of mobile devices. Here are a few data points that illustrate growing mobile device usage in the enterprise.

Question 1. What are your organization’s spending plans for mobile devices and mobile device support?

37% spending will increase significantly
45% spending will increase moderately
14% spending will stay flat
3% spending will decrease
1% don’t know

Question 2. How important are mobile devices to your organization’s business processes and productivity?

38% critical
48% important
11% somewhat important
1% not important today but will be important in the future
1% not important today or in the future
1% don’t know

Question 3: Does your organization develop, or plan to develop, specific applications for mobile devices?

28% already develop applications for mobile devices
34% plan to develop applications for mobile devices
26% no plans at this time but interested in developing apps.
11% no plans or interest in developing apps.
1% don’t know

In summary, enterprises are spending more on mobile devices and device support, they believe these devices are “critical” or “important” for the business, and most already develop mobile device applications or plan to do so.

Sounds to me like every IT vendor in the endpoint (PC, laptop, mobile device), network, security, management, and application markets should have a mobile device strategy. Those that either haven’t developed or articulated their strategies are way behind.

Tags: , Apple, , , , Sprint, Windows Mobile
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