OPINION unified access with BYOD approach, and the portal automatically gives them the right access depending on which device is in use at any given time with on-boarding. All policies and configuration for the different devices are made by the IT department initially in the portal, and once the employee makes the initial engagement, their profile can be built up accordingly. When the same employee gets a new personal iPad which needs to be authenticated on the network, the employee doesn’t have to go back to the IT department to undergo a complex process - they can just go to the online portal and indicate that they are using a new device, which already has its network access settings preconfigured. It’s worth noting that the demand for bandwidth doesn’t just come from humans with smart devices. We must not neglect machine-tomachine communication here either, the so-called Internet of Things. Machine-to-machine (M2M) connections are set to rise dramatically over the next decade. It has been predicted that by 2022 there will be 18 billion M2M connections globally (Machina Research), up from three billion connections in 2012, driven in part by greater mobile access, falling component costs, along with developments in both device intelligence and the growing applications market. Wired devices such as security cameras with sensors, smart meters or GPS all require that data be sent across the network. The competitive advantages that M2M brings to the enterprise cost reduction through automation, the collection of business or operations data and security or regulatory compliance monitoring - can lead to significant efficiencies and greater operational agility. The prioritisation of these devices must also be factored into any unified access approach. Unified access provides real business takeaways - the scalability of being able to start with just a handful of employees and increasing that usage as demands increase, as well as the ability to use a single solution to support a virtual desktop approach with advanced applications across voice, data, LAN and WLAN. Obviously not all organisations have the same needs, or require the same level of infrastructure renewal. A unified access management system can be implemented to update existing technology and protect past investments in the form of a simple software upgrade, or it can even form part of a completely new solution to ensure functionality in the future. This flexibility offers customers the choice of how to implement a unified access strategy when upgrading their network systems, keeping their strategy in line with business requirements and budget. Whichever option is required, ensuring continuity across both wired and wireless networks will significantly help to cope with demand as smart devices and their demanding applications continue to increase in the workplace.
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Evolving mobility BYOD, the rise of mobile computing and the growth in M2M applications is not just something that is going to happen, it is happening. People’s behaviour and expectations have changed as a result of mobile consumer technology. The way we use and interact with technology is no longer a static, desk-bound affair. Without a properly designed and implemented unified access strategy, the burden being placed on the existing network architecture from emerging technology and applications will only continue to grow. The result will be frustration for employees, customers and clients when mobility and connectivity are not of the standard that they are accustomed to in other areas of their lives. Networks must be ready to cope with this future demand, and as WLANs become increasingly mission-critical as mobility evolves, a unified access strategy can help to ensure optimal performance and prioritisation across the enterprise network based on business needs and employee role, requirements and location at any given time. www.alcatel-lucent.com
Infoburst BYOD helps you make the most of cloud computing