Do You Have a Business Mobile Device Management Policy?

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In a recent article on mobile device management (MDM), CIO magazine makes the intriguing and pointed observation that “the mobile enterprise is the BYOD enterprise,” which may be the reason many businesses have been slow to implement comprehensive mobile device management policies. Unfortunately, a lack of such policies is unrealistic and fails to take into account the fact that employees are probably already bringing in their mobile devices, and using them, at work. The presence of such devices already brings possibilities, as well as security risks.

What Is Your Business Mobile Device Management Policy?

What is your policy on mobile device use in the workplace? Are your employees provided with company devices – and only allowed to use those devices while on the clock? Perhaps you allow limited use of mobile devices at the workplace, so long as they are not connected to the business network.  Be aware, that even such limited access can provide security risks, for example from employees using their cell phones to take screenshots or record conversations. Especially in light of ongoing security breaches, now is the time to be proactive.

What Should Your Policy Be?

Mobile device management refers to a number of software products currently on the market, which manage risk caused by the reality that people carry and use a variety of mobile devices. Mobile device management also includes an understanding on the part of employers that security and accessibility are reasons for concern – and the reason for possibility as well. Consider a policy of mobile device management which allows your workers’ maximum productivity, including the use of mobile devices for business functions, while minimizing your security risks.

Implementing Change

Change is hard, as they often say, but change can be good. When introducing a new mobile device management plan, or improving on the one you have in place, make sure to cultivate input from all levels of your organization. This way, you can better ensure acceptance and compliance, and maximize productivity by taking into account all the legitimate uses people have for mobile devices in your place of business.

Mobile device management means moving beyond acceptance, into the realm of actively utilizing mobile devices, with all the possibilities they can bring.

Making educated technology decisions defines business success in today’s competitive world. For larger companies, one wrong move can equal millions in lost productivity, hardware failure, and potential security breaches. For smaller businesses and start-up companies, technology guesswork is the fine line between closing the doors and establishing a creative edge in the market.

WheelHouse Solutions can provide the mobile expertise that your business needs. We have extensive experience planning and implementing complicated projects in a business environment. We’ll ensure that your project is managed effectively, analyzing and defining your needs and then creating a scope of work, including project goals and milestones. We’re experts at working with third-party vendors, to ensure that your projects are implemented flawlessly, on time and under budget.  Click here or call us today at 314-492-2506 for a free consultation.

What, Exactly, is the “Internet of Things”?

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One of the most popular buzzwords in tech today is the “Internet of Things” (IoT) but what exactly is it referring to? This week, we’ll explain the very basics of IoT and how it will continue to transform the way we communicate and conduct business in the 21st century.

The phrase “Internet of Things” was first coined in 1999 by Kevin Ashton, executive director of the Auto-ID Center at MIT, and referred to the myriad of devices that would eventually be connected to the internet. In summary, the “internet of things” is the natural evolution of the network, whereby smart objects on the network have the ability to collect data, in addition to users having the ability to connect to those devices and issue commands, such as remotely setting a home or business’ security system or setting a home DVR to record a television show, from a remote location, miles away.

Today, the “Internet of things” includes mobile phones, tablet computers, cars, fitness trackers, refrigerators, security systems and light bulbs, just to name a few. All of these devices collect data and exchange it through dedicated sensors, over the internet. In 2010, there were over 12.5 billion devices connected to the internet, even though the worldwide population was only 6.8 billion, marking the beginning of “the Internet of Things” – where devices on the network outnumber human beings on the network.

The following are some of the ways that IoT will make our lives easier:

Medical Monitoring

Healthcare providers will have the ability to monitor patients without visiting them in person, reducing healthcare costs and significantly reducing the risk of errors and omissions. Medical devices may even, at some point, have the ability to administer medication, ensuring the patient is always comfortable, even when a doctor cannot be immediately reached. There are a myriad of ways that IoT will help modern medicine make significant advances. Google, for example, is currently working on a contact lens that has the ability to measure glucose, making life easier for diabetics.

Autonomous Vehicles

Self-driving cars may be the most cutting edge example of IoT. You can now buy a car that will drive you to and from work, suggest potential shortcuts based on real-time traffic conditions, notify you of weather forecasts and even suggest what type of music you might like to listen to on the commute. It’s only a matter of time before these vehicles are the rule, rather than the exception.

Smart Housing

Some cutting edge examples of smart housing include sensors that can detect human behavior and adjust the mood of the house accordingly by dimming lights and putting on soothing music, for example. Other examples may include the ability to draw a hot bath for the owner or brew a pot of coffee, automatically, based upon user input.

Sales Analytics and Distribution

Manufacturers can benefit from IoT by tracking their product from the initial sale to production to shipment, all while monitoring parts inventory levels and benefiting from AI that automatically orders new parts, as stock runs low, before any employees are even aware of the issue.

As is the case in every technical revolution, the “IoT” may mean that certain tasks are handled by automation, allowing businesses to prosper in an age of Artificial intelligence and internet connectivity. If you would like more information about IoT, including which IoT platforms would best suit the needs of your product or solution, we invite you to fill out the form on this page and someone from our offices will get back with you.