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While the previous system of staff using
Google supports. While IT depart-
Ian Hodge from Quest said, “Businesses
laptops connecting back to the main of-
ments, intent on reducing costs, might
are going to start seeing business ad-
fice over an SSL VPN worked, it wasn’t
consider ‘no name’ tablets rather than
vantages in implementing BYOD. But
as mobile as they’d like.
branded products for known vendors,
it starts by looking at the user and not
those cheaper devices might not have
the device. Rather than letting everyone
“We wanted to present a more profes-
security features that are added by
plug in their iPads, it might be ‘let’s un-
sional approach and not sit at a desk,
vendors who understand the needs of
derstand what the users in their various
open up a laptop and then say to the
enterprise customers.
roles in the company are doing and let’s provide a technology solution for them
client ‘Hang on a second’. A professional approach said that we just had a tablet,
For example, as Ron Hassanwalia of SOTI
that helps them go about their business
could open up the CRM app and have
explains, “Prior to Ice Cream Sandwich
more effectively and actually contributes
all the details of that lead or account at
[Android 4.0], you could not encrypt the
to the bottom line’.”
their fingertips.”
SD card of many Android devices with the exception of Samsung and HTC. If
In contrast, the Master Builders Asso-
Choosing mobile platforms
you wanted to allow Gingerbread [An-
ciation of Queensland didn’t tread the
The IT business has always had its own
droid 2.x] devices then you probably
popular BYOD path. Instead, the organi-
religious wars. Apple vs Windows. Ora-
wanted Samsung or HTC.”
sation chose to purchase and distribute iPads to staff. This was driven by the
cle vs SQL Server. Proprietary vs Open Source. It’s no different when it comes
Adding to complexity for IT executives
gentle learning curve with the devices
to mobility.
who are choosing mobile platforms is
as it was already a platform staff was
the potential rise of BlackBerry and
familiar with. Most already had their
The two main players at the moment
Microsoft. Both have recently released
own iPhone or iPad so the transition
are iOS and Android. Developed by Ap-
new operating systems that target the
from laptops to iPads was relatively easy.
ple and Google respectively, both take
growth in enterprise mobility. What’s
very different approaches to security. In
interesting is that just a few years ago,
“The more mature companies that em-
Apple’s case, access to third-party apps
they were the incumbent powerhouses
brace that user-centric model say that
is tightly controlled through its App
of the market but they are now the
they believe that BYOD can help their
Store and device management is bound
challengers.
employees be more productive. They can respond more quickly to custom-
by tight guidelines governed by Apple.
6
To BYOD or not to BYOD
ers. They can improve work processes,”
As many different vendors use Android,
The challenge for technologists is to
according to Hodge.
each adds their own customisations to
not start with the solution. In some
the operating system. As a result, some
cases, the decision as to what hardware
The middle ground is to allow users to
devices ship with Android’s default
is deployed is centred on the specific
bring their own devices but limit what
system security while others have extra
devices. However, that’s not the best
is supported on different platforms.
components added through APIs that
place to start.
The BYOCD approach advocated by