IBM endpoint manager for mobile:
According to a report in techweekeurope IBM now targeting the mobile enterprise market with more fervor, perhaps awakened by the BYOD (bring your own device) trend, we take a look at what the technology giant will be doing in this niche in years to come.
Security issues and more:
With more and more people accessing data via their mobile devices for the companies they work for, IBM have seen that there is a gap in the market for a service that will ensure that all mobile devices accessing company data will have a management system wrapped around them that will ensure that sensitive data remains safe when needed.
All but Research In Motions Blackberry O/S is supported in terms of mobile operating systems, perhaps leading some to think that this is a cunning move from IBM who are looking to team up with HTC to enter the mobile enterprise device market as direct competitors to RIM who have already captured this market more than most in terms of devices sold and presence of mind.
Bob Sutor, vice president of IBM Mobile Platform said:
“The new offering from IBM will help organisations manage personal and enterprise-owned mobile phones and tablets across IT networks in order to minimise risk, increase productivity and enhance innovation,”
The endpoints in question are as expected: tablets, smartphones, laptops, desktop PCs and servers.
Talking of the Big fix software acquisition back in 2010 IBM stated:
“BigFix will really help us fulfill what is really a critical need for many of our clients, and that is dealing with the endpoints that make up the core point of access for many of their IT systems and services,”
Adding mobile onto their acquisition of the Big Fix software in 2010, which was designed to remotely manage desktops, secure servers, laptops and POS devices, the addition of a mobile centric endpoint manager brings the circle of demand to a close for most organisations who need to consider these kind of issues internally with the growth of mobile device use.
So what can you do with this mobile endpoint manager:
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- Identifying potential data compromises
- Selectively wipe data from compromised devices
- Enforce passcode policies and encryption on devices
- Configured to require employees to use a VPN when accessing the enterprise network
- IT staff will be able to identify devices that are not complying with corporate policies and take appropriate action
- This could be in the form of denying email access or by issuing notifications to the user device as a reminder on what remedial steps need to be performed
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With young professionals and college students preferring to lose their wallet than their mobile devices, according to a Cisco funded poll, it is clear to see that the world of business needs to wake up to the importance we bestow our mobile devices, and the sheer amount of private data they contain.
IBM are also reported to have purchased an Israeli mobile technology firm called Worklight who specialise in smartphone and tablet software, which is hoped will help speed up the entrance IBM are making into a solution that will provide their clients with a platform that will allow control over multiple devices mobile and fixed.
Anthony Munns